Newington co-ed protest: Wild scenes at prestigious $42,000-a-year private school as parents hold signs to protest major decision about future
- Parents protest against important decision
- Dozens of demonstrators gather at school
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Furious parents have gathered at an elite $42,000-a-year boys' school with banners to protest the university's controversial move to introduce girls to the student population.
About 30 protesters gathered outside Newington College, located in the western Sydney suburb of Stanmore, around 8am on Wednesday morning to voice their opposition to the controversial decision.
The prestigious school – which charges $42,201 annually for a Year 12 boy to attend university – announced in 2023 that girls will be admitted to the school as early as 2026.
Furious parents have gathered at Newington College (pictured) in Sydney's west, holding signs to protest the school's decision to go co-ed.
The intention is for the school to become fully co-ed by 2033.
Protesters held up messages on signs calling on the school board to scrap the decision with one sign saying the college has already lost “$5 million in legacies.”
Another demanded a new vote on the mixed policy.
“Demand transparency and accountability from the school council,” it said.
It is the first time in the school's 160-year history that female students have been admitted to the university.
Several parents gathered outside the university said students attending the school were afraid to speak out against the decision for fear they could lose their place at the school, according to reports from the Daily Telegraph.
Parents outraged by the school's decision initially planned to meet at Stanmore Park before heading to the school for a 'peaceful and silent' demonstration.
Outraged parents (pictured) gathered outside the prestigious college to protest the school council's decision
Newington College has been an all-boys school throughout the college's 160-year history (Newington College student photo)
Wednesday's protest was designed to give parents opposed to the decision the opportunity to hold up signs and hand out stickers to other parents dropping off their son's belongings at school.
The college's principal, Michael Parker, wrote a letter to students' parents warning them of the planned protests.
Mr Parker previously said the school would place more staff around the 'college perimeter' to protect students.
He said in the letter that while those organizing the protest have the right to express their views, the school's focus will remain on the start of the new school year.
“Several hundred boys will start their first day at Newington tomorrow and they will experience all kinds of mixed emotions as they walk through the gates at this threshold moment,” the letter said.
Several parents gathered outside Newington College (pictured) said students were afraid to speak out against the move for fear of being expelled from the college.
Protesters (pictured) planned to gather in Stanmore Park before staging a 'peaceful and silent' demonstration outside the school grounds