Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools is making a significant change to its structure by becoming a diamond school from September.
In a diamond school, children are educated in co-educational classes up to the age of 11 and again at sixth form. From 11–16 years old, children are taught in single-sex classes.
For the new academic year, the family of independent schools in Wales will offer a fully co-educational Monmouth Prep School for children aged 3–11, followed by Monmouth School for Boys and Monmouth School for Girls for children aged 11–16, and Monmouth Schools Sixth Form for pupils aged 16–18.
This means that the single-sex Monmouth School Boys’ Prep and Monmouth School Girls’ Prep will be dropped.
There are currently 240 boys and girls enrolled at Monmouth Prep School for September.
Principal at Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools, James Murphy-O’Connor, said: “Through an innovative system of education, known as the Monmouth Model, Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools’ new diamond structure will provide the perfect balance of single-sex and co-education for children aged 3-18 at the optimum stages of their academic and personal development in the heart of the inspirational Wye Valley.”
Prep school pupils will receive subject-specialist teaching delivered across two sites. Neil Shaw, the current head of Monmouth School Boys’ Prep, will become the head of Monmouth Prep School.
Shaw said: “We will focus on developing enthusiastic, inquisitive, resilient girls and boys with high aspirations. Children will be motivated to learn with a sense of fun, enjoyment and excitement, both in and out of the classroom.”
“Girls and boys can immerse can themselves in a breadth and range of educational opportunities, trips and expeditions, social and co-curricular events and shared community projects. Pupils will make the most of the outstanding facilities for science, languages, music, culture, sports and dance on offer across our family of schools.”
