Newington College parents and alumni threaten legal action over private boys' school's plan to enrol girls

Furious parents and former students at one of Australia's most prestigious all-boys private schools have threatened legal action over its plans to go co-ed.

Newington College in Sydney's inner-west recently unveiled plans to overturn more than 160 years of tradition to welcome its first intake of girls in 2026 and become fully co-educational by 2033.

The Uniting Church school will welcome girls to its prep schools for kindergarten and year 5 in 2026, and at its senior campus for years 7 and 11 in 2028.

Parents and 'old boys' from the college against the plans quickly banded together to threaten legal action.

The group enlisted commercial law firm Brown Wright Stein to send a letter to chairman of the Council of Newington College this week.

The group argues the school's council as the trustee of a charitable trust does not have the power to change the original purpose for establishing Newington College, which it says 'was to educate boys and young men'.

They also question whether the move breaches the terms of the trust. 

'The college upon its inception, was intended to be (and has been) a college in particular for the advancement of education of boys and young men,' the letter obtained by the ABC states.

'Upon establishment of the college (and indeed the establishment of the charitable trust of which the council holds property), it was never contemplated that girls and young women would be educated by the college'.

The letter was also sent to NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley and the president of the 'Old Newingtonians Union'.

'We have included the attorney-general of NSW, on the basis that the attorney-general is the protector of charitable trust, and that in the event that proceedings are to be commenced, then the attorney-general is to provide approval and will be a necessary defendant,' the letter reads.

'We will be separately corresponding with the attorney-general (again as the protector of charities) with respect to the possible commencement of 'charitable trust proceedings'.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Brown Wright Stein for comment.

An online petition launched by former alumni John Ramarque has attracted more than 1,700 signatures within 10 days.

'The decision to make our school co-ed is not just a change in policy; it's an erosion of our heritage,' the petition states.

'Newington has always been a place for boys to grow into men, surrounded by their brothers. It's where we learned about camaraderie, leadership, and respect - values that have shaped us into who we are today.'

'The decision to transition into a co-educational institution didn’t include alumni or current students, but is apparently ‘supported’ by the ‘majority’ of the schools community.'

Newington College wouldn't comment on the letter but recently acknowledged the co-ed plans received overwhelming but not unanimous support. 

'We appreciate that there are some in our community who disagree with this decision,' council chairman Tony McDonald states in an open letter on the school's website.

'We appreciate that everyone is entitled to their view, however we know that the best interests of Newington and its students in the future is co-educational and one that prepares all our students for an enriching, positive and thriving future, beyond their time at school.'

The school spent almost two years examining the bold proposal and getting feedback.

'We believe this decision is best for the long-term future of Newington, and especially the futures of each of the young people we educate now, as well as those students who will join us in the years to come,' Mr McDonald added.

 'The decision was made with a high degree of confidence in the ability to make Newington an even better school. It's carefully staged so that we underwrite both our current and future direction.'

Established in 1873, Newington College charges annual fees of up to $38,884 for Years 11 and 12.