I was always one of those who thought co-education was good for Hymers. It was the civilising influence the place needed. I had been educated at a co-educational school and attended a Music College where it did not occur to anyone that the achievements of both sexes were not equally important.

When I was sixteen my parents thought it would be a good idea to send a shy sixteen year old to Hymers as one of the first girls (only two girls in the year) in an all boy school for A Levels.

I was cast as Katherine in Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, ironically a play that is about a woman in a man’s world; a taste of things to come!

I bear in mind in particular one occasion when I knew that co-education had become a natural way of being. It was during my 1995 production of Guys and Dolls where we had a big cast and used the sports hall as an extension to the green room. As part of a large cast there were a dozen or so girls from Years 11 to 13 who made up the chorus of ‘Hot Box’ girls, and they had to do a quick change behind a curtain. Where were the chorus of boys? Not trying to get a surreptitious peep, as my contemporaries might have done, but up the other end of the sports hall playing football. They had simply become used to each other.

The arrival of girls at Hymers caused quite a stir among the younger boys but the girls had a wonderful civilising influence on Hymers. The boys even started using first names when speaking with each other! Just to show you how much things have changed over the years, I remember that the very few ladies on the staff were said to have been informed they might wear trousers - but only when there was snow on the ground. Can you believe it?

I remember the first day at Hymers in 1989 as ten girls lined up in over sized blazers by 100 boys. Having been at an all-girls school for the first nine years of my life, there were some changes ahead for myself and my family. My time at Hymers took me to amazing places across the world, on sports and education trips. I made friends for life here and my children’s godparents are all friends from my school days! I feel extremely lucky to now be working at the heart of the school reconnecting our community.

Being one of the first girls in the Senior School meant that we had a unique experience. There were 21 girls in our year, with about 80 boys. For me, I felt that the girls all got along better, as we were in the minority, and looked out for each other. The boys also looked after us and were protective. In Year 13, I was the only girl to study IT. It meant I was subjected, in fun, to teasing from the boys in the class, however, I also knew they would be the first to defend me if anyone else said anything. I made friends, both female and male, for life at Hymers.

When I started Senior School, although it was the first year of co-ed, it wasn't a huge change for me, as I was in an all-boys class, just like in the Junior School. Until we took options, I didn't have any classes with the girls, but it was daunting at first as I wasn't used to being in an environment with them. It did eventually become the norm to have the girls there and we, the boys, became good friends with the girls, and have continued to have strong friendships ever since.

I recall that one sports afternoon we went to Beverley swimming and I tried to impress the Sixth Form girls with my skills on the diving board - that I didn't have. So I attempted a forward somersault which I achieved...but landed on my face. I'm not sure if it was the embarrassment or the impact that caused my face to be so red on the bus back to Hymers!

As one of the first Head Girls, I was keen to gain the equal acknowledgment of our role in the school whilst also being offered the same opportunities as the boys. On Speech Day, as part of Head Girl speech, I asked Mr Morris directly (who was sat next to us on the stage) if a sport's tour for the girls was being planned, similar to the boys' rugby tour. This was met with rather a stony silence. Needless to say I don't think I got my answer but carried on regardless. As I left the stage, I remember seeing Fitzy and Billy Exley roll their eyes at me. I then walked past Mrs Chorlton who gave me a wry smile and a wink. This was all I needed. We had been heard.

The girls did bring colour into our lives, especially in the musical productions which they graced with their beautiful artwork, dancing, gymnastics, and acting skills.

Social skills were increased, and a healthy feeling of competition developed between the two sexes. Musically, we expanded; we continued with our wonderful boy’s chamber choir and the girls soon requested a separate one of their own. 

Previously, I was at a boarding school and was very keen to leave.  My father said that if I could find a good local school, I could study for my A-Levels locally. I wrote to the Head, John Ashurst, and asked if Hymers College had considered taking girls as I wished to study science A-Levels and knew that his school had a first-class record. I had an interview with the Head, who told my father that I was tenacious! I was then admitted into the school for my A-Levels.

I have quite a funny memory of the masters calling all the boys by their surnames when doing the register but then switching to first names when they got to a girl, slightly confused as to what to call us!

I do remember it being quite an experience with so many boys compared to girls at school. I can't quite believe that was 35 years ago, feeling properly old now.....!!

Word has it that there were one or two dissenting voices in the late 1980s when the topic of co-education was first raised. As well as the ‘odd’ governor and several old boys, those other ‘voices’ seemed to be mainly in the PE and Games Department. The thinking behind this from the department view was that with the numbers of boys at the school being reduced, it would have an impact on the quality and standard of the boys’ major games. How wrong we were!!

A lot of planning went into the introduction of girls, and I think we got most things right. We got used to using first names for boys and girls, and the girls did not seem to be oppressed by initially being outnumbered. Nearly all of us believed the move to co-education was the best thing that had happened to the College for a long time. The results were all positive – attitudes became less macho, a more natural environment, a more relaxed and, I think, friendly atmosphere, fewer disciplinary problems, improved academic results.

We ran a workshop for the staff to prepare for the presence of girls and more female teachers at the school. The Senior Common Room had just been relocated to a new room, along with its sign ‘Masters’ Common Room’. I pointed this out, that Masters were not the only inhabitants of the Common Room. Later that day, Mr Bass had found a screwdriver, the plaque was removed and never seen again.

I became the first female to lead a school assembly. As I walked back into Mr Morris’ room in my black gown, I remarked to him that a ‘minor miracle had occurred, to which none of the Headmasters’ portraits (hung in the Main Hall) had fallen off the wall.’

“Hymers takes girls in the Sixth Form,” was the mantra. I thought it must be strange. They must be brave or special in some way.  When I joined the Hymers Sixth Form from my all-girls’ school, it felt like I’d left one bear pit for another. From all girls to virtually all boys.

I look back on my two years at Hymers now with immense fondness. I remember isolated moments, such as the headmaster waving frantically at me across the grounds one lunchtime, as I unknowingly trashed the cricked square by walking across it in my heels.

The transition went incredibly smoothly. It was almost necessary to protect the boys from the girls, because at that age, many girls were larger, stronger, and more mature.

I had wondered how to mark this momentous change in the first assembly of the autumn term. Fortunately, it dawned on me that all our new pupils came from mixed schools. This was no novelty for them.

I loved my time at Hymers. As well as an incredible academic education, it also allowed me to develop and explore my passions for music and performing, something which I am grateful for to this day as a keen amateur musician. Many of my happiest memories involve the incredible friends that I made during my time there, most of whom I am still in touch with and who form an important and much loved part of my life.

There’s a Girl in the School! There was a rumour that there was a girl ... in the school. Apparently in the Sixth Form. They were a bit of a mystery in more ways than one, and I cringe to say that, as a young teenager in an all-boys school, I saw them as rather worrying.

But when we entered the Sixth Form ourselves in 1978, we were joined by some lovely young ladies. Their presence among us was quite transformative. Gruff, loutish, testosterone-loaded lads found that they had a remarkably polite and considerate side to them, and several discovered deodorant!

Over time, the girls have had an incredibly positive effect on the school. It became a less harsh environment and the examination results improved immeasurably.

Girls sport throughout my time in the school has been more successful than the boys in terms of reaching National Finals and winning competitions. There is still a competitive edge between the sexes, but the girls more than hold their own.

Ann Collier, OH 1984-86, and I were consulted on the uniform for girls which came in as we moved into the upper sixth. Red jumpers didn't make it! A new running stride was born to stop the wrap-around skirt unwrapping on swift crossing of the quad.

I don’t think we had been forewarned about the girl’s arrival in 1972. It was a surprise to arrive at school for my first day in Sixth Form and to meet someone in the class not wearing a grey suit with hair much longer than the regulations.

In 1975, when Mr John ‘Jake’ Ashurst was Headmaster, I joined the Sixth Form. This entitled us to go in the Sixth Form Common Room. But arriving there, we found the small room in the corner was suddenly out of bounds to boys and was to be the domain of two girls – Véronique Bouchet, OH 1975-77 and Jackie Sprinz, OH 1975-77.

To have girls in school every day was a completely different thing all together. We were not sure what to do. Or what to say even. Social distancing had arrived long before the pandemic! After a year, they multiplied and another two arrived. One of these was Helen Parsons, OH 1976-78, who was destined to be in Neil King’s form (OH Staff 1974-2006) and later my wife.