Thorpe House School in Gerrards Cross has announced plans to extend its co-educational provision from September 2027, welcoming girls alongside boys in Nursery, Prep and into a new Year 7 intake.

The school’s established co-educational Sixth Form will continue to thrive as it does today.

The plans follow a significant period of consultation with parents, pupils and staff and come at the conclusion of a three-year development plan for the school. Thorpe House’s Governors have unanimously supported the proposal, which remains subject to the necessary Department for Education approval.

Growing Co-ed.

Founded in 1923 as an all-boys prep school, Thorpe House has spent more than a century developing a small-school approach in which pupils are known as individuals. The proposed expansion represents a significant new chapter in the school’s history, while retaining the values and characteristics that families value about a Thorpe education.

Building on a successful co-educational Sixth Form

Girls have already become an established part of the Thorpe House community through its co-educational Sixth Form, which opened in 2024.

The school’s first co-educational Sixth Form cohort has now completed its time at Thorpe, achieving strong A level and BTEC results and progressing to a range of university destinations. The experience has given the school practical insight into welcoming and supporting boys and girls together and provided a strong foundation for its next stage of development.

Similarly, the school’s 11+ pass rate is nearly 90%, reflecting the school’s strong academic focus.

Jake Burnett, Head of Thorpe House School, said:

“This is an exciting moment in the history of Thorpe House, but it is one that we have approached very carefully.

“We have listened to our parents, pupils and staff and taken the time to consider what is right for our school and, most importantly, for our pupils. The success of our co-educational Sixth Form has given us valuable experience and confidence, but we also recognise that younger children have different needs.

“Our ambition is to extend the opportunities of a Thorpe education to more children while protecting the things that make our school special. We are small by design, every child is known and valued, and our Thorpe Way, academic ambition and exceptional pastoral care remain at the heart of what we do.

“This is about growing co-ed, not changing the character of Thorpe. It is a wider welcome for the next chapter of our school.”

A phased approach

Under the proposed plans, boys and girls would learn together from Nursery through Year 6, from September 2027.

At Year 7, girls will join boys and the approach will refine and define elements of the highly regarded diamond model within the Senior School, built around the needs of its pupils and the different stages of their education. The school will consider where pupils may benefit from learning together and where teaching in separate groups may be appropriate, while maintaining flexibility within the model.

There is no general co-educational intake proposed for Years 8 to 11 at this stage. Any future admissions into these year groups would be considered separately, taking into account the legal position, pupil experience and viable cohort sizes. 

Protecting what makes Thorpe House distinctive

Throughout the consultation, parents and pupils highlighted the importance of small classes, individual attention, close relationships, pastoral care and the school’s strong sense of community.

These will remain central to the school’s approach as it grows.

Thorpe House intends to grow in a measured way, with pupil numbers, staffing and room capacity carefully considered before entry arrangements are finalised. The school’s current approach is based around small classes, with around 16 pupils considered a practical class maximum.

The school will also put in place appropriate preparation for the new intake, including staff professional development, curriculum and pastoral planning, safeguarding arrangements and a review of facilities, sport, changing areas and other aspects of daily school life.

A strong foundation for the future

Thorpe House has already been through the regulatory process required to introduce co-education. In March 2024, the Independent Schools Inspectorate examined the school’s plans to extend provision to age 18 and admit girls aged 16 to 18. The inspection found that all standards within the scope of the inspection were met and recommended approval of the material change, including in relation to Sixth Form teaching, safeguarding, the needs of female pupils, risk assessment and premises.

Thorpe House will now submit its formal application to the Department for Education for the proposed expansion into Nursery, Prep and Year 7.

The school will continue to keep parents and the wider community informed as the regulatory process progresses and further details of the plans are confirmed.

Jake Burnett added:

“Thorpe House has a long history, but we have always looked forward as well as back. Growing co-ed is the next step in that story.

“The Thorpe Way remains at the centre of everything we do: being truthful, helpful, organised, resilient, polite and empathic. We want to give more children the opportunity to be part of that community, while ensuring that every child continues to receive the individual attention and care that Thorpe is known for.”

Thorpe House School was founded in Gerrards Cross in 1923 and provides education from Nursery through to Sixth Form.

The school’s Thorpe Way values are Truthful, Helpful, Organised, Resilient, Polite and Empathic.

The proposed September 2027 development is subject to Department for Education approval. Under the proposal, girls would be welcomed into Nursery and Prep and the new Year 7 intake, while the established co-educational Sixth Form would continue. No general co-educational intake into Years 8 to 11 is proposed for September 2027.

Interested in a place for September 2027? Contact our Admissions Team today. Email susan.fontenelle@thorpehouse.co.uk or call us on 01753 882474.