ERMYSTED'S Grammar School in Skipton is considering breaking with tradition and admitting girls for the first time in its more than 500-year history.

If the plans go ahead, girls will be admitted to its sixth form and will be able to sit A-levels alongside boys from September 2025 - Ermysted's will remain a single-sex school for pupils aged 11 to 16 years old.

The school, which a year ago was downgraded by Ofsted from 'outstanding' to 'good' - although its sixth form was one of the four out of five areas to remain 'outstanding' - says having a co-educational sixth form will bring benefits for all pupils.

Headteacher Michael Evans said: “By offering a limited number of places to male and female pupils from other schools we hope to increase choice and broaden access to our excellent post-16 provision here at Ermysted’s.

“Our sixth form offers a unique curriculum and provides subjects and opportunities not found elsewhere locally. This proposal will help us to protect the breadth of our existing curriculum offer and we believe it will strengthen the sixth form experience for all our pupils.”

On Friday last week, the school governors launched a six-week consultation to seek the views of parents and the wider community with a decision expected in early February next year.

Under the plans, boys completing their GCSEs at Ermysted’s will continue to be guaranteed a place in the sixth form if they achieve the required exam grades.

The number of places offered to external pupils from other schools will be increased - from the current 20 to 35 - and applications will be considered equally from both male and female pupils, who would also need to achieve the required exam grades to be offered a place.

George Barrett, head of sixth form at Ermysted’s added: “We have looked at the experiences of other single-sex schools around the country that have moved to offer a coeducational environment for A-levels, and the change has been overwhelmingly positive.

“This proposal would enable our sixth formers to benefit from the different approaches that male and female students bring to the classroom and wider school life, providing them with the best preparation for life beyond school. Our younger boys will also benefit from the leadership and role models that a mixed sixth form brings.”

Ermysted’s was founded as a chantry school in Skipton before 1492, making it the country’s seventh oldest state school. It has been at its current site on Gargrave Road in the town for almost 150 years.