Earlier this year, historic girls' school Malvern St James announced its decision to transition to co-education, opening its leading academic and co-curricular opportunities up to boys for the first time in its 132-year history.
With the school due to welcome its first male students from September 2025, SoGlos speaks to headmaster, Dr Gareth Lloyd, about the decision to move away from single-sex education and the opportunities this brings for current and prospective students.
Why is Malvern St James transitioning to co-education?
Malvern St James has proudly educated girls for the past 132 years; we have always been a community that is forward-looking and unafraid to make bold decisions.
As society in the UK — and especially in the overseas international boarding market — moves its preference towards co-education, Malvern St James has taken the exciting decision to transition to co-education from September 2025.
As a business, albeit a business in the development of young minds and hearts, we are investing in the future of the school by opening admissions to boys.
How does Malvern St James plan to maintain its values during the transition to co-education?
We are an exceptionally values-driven school community, where kindness, good manners, respect, inclusivity, equality, self-discipline, diligence and empathy are lived out daily. What an opportunity we now have to share such values with boys, too!
As we grow from 200 students towards 450 by 2030, our values will remain pillars of the MSJ community, with an emphasis on being the best version of oneself and achieving our very best in every area of the curriculum and co-curriculum.
We provide an excellent education with a distinctive curriculum, setting our students on a path towards life after Malvern St James and a deeply rewarding future.
How has the school community responded to the move towards co-education?
As we move to co-education, it has been fantastic to engage with the entire community — current and past students, parents and staff — in considering not only the curriculum and activities suitable for boys and girls, but also practical matters such as boys’ uniform, toilets, changing rooms and a separate boarding house.
Staff have discussed how we maintain and build upon our values-based ethos, from assemblies to the classroom, our extra-curricular activities to charity fund-raising and engagement with local, regional, national and international communities.
At a time when boys and men are not always provided with suitable role models, Malvern St James staff are truly excited to be able to address this positively.
What opportunities are there for boys and girls at Malvern St James?
We are proud of the range of subjects taught and the broad offering of activities. These include sport, music, drama and art, complemented by our diploma in Global Competencies and a robust Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme.
Our membership of Round Square — with over 170 other schools from around the world — and the growing group of international schools within Galaxy Global Education Group facilitates a truly global outlook and a commitment to contributing to events and activities on the world stage.
Consequently, there are so many exciting opportunities for our boys and girls, as well as staff; we are an ambitious and dynamic school!
What advice would you give to parents when choosing a school for their child?
To current and prospective parents of both boys and girls, I have a simple message: find a school where your child will first and foremost be happy.
A happy child will engage with academic studies positively, will develop character and resilience through activities outside of the classroom and will develop healthy, positive and respectful relationships with their peers, regardless of gender.
These will all help each and every child to prepare for life full of purpose beyond the age of 18. I sincerely believe that Malvern St James may be that school, so do please come and visit us!
To visit Malvern St James for a
place, contact msjadmissions@malvernstjames.co.uk for a private tour.
