Harrogate Ladies’ College to extend its co-ed provision from September 2026

The news comes at a challenging time for the wider independent school sector, and will safeguard the future and give families stability for decades to come, says the Principal.

Rebranding as Duchy College, from September 2026 Year 7 and Year 12 will expand to include boys as well as girls. While the pre and prep schools (currently called Highfield) are already co-ed, senior school Harrogate Ladies’ College has been exclusively single sex for a long time.

The change will build on all the things that make the College a success, without impacting on school ratios or staffing levels. Class sizes are being maintained at their small level, with the College having enough space and staff to accommodate any uptake in school roll size.

Also new for September 2026 will be a new sixth form centre, and an expanded sports provision, offering cricket and basketball for boys and girls, and adding boys football to the existing girls soccer provision.

Principal, Joanna Fox said, “I am incredibly excited about the future of our school community. We’re proud to be a small school where pupils are known and supported as individuals. Our ethos is all about helping young people to be themselves and to be proud of who they are. I think that is so important in today’s world and I’m really pleased that we’re now going to be able to offer this to all young people.”

Why now?

It’s far from a knee-jerk reaction to the current economic climate, but a measured and long term strategic plan for the future. Harrogate Ladies’ College actually began its life as a boys’ school, but changed when leaders of the day felt there was a need for girls to receive a good quality education, to open up further education and life opportunities to then.

Society has come a long way – in fact more than half of the students at English universities are now female – and change is once again the right thing for the local community.

What parents say

Parents have been notified and for many families, having their daughters and sons attend the one establishment is welcomed. Younger pupils at Highfield already enjoy co-ed educating, and this phased introduction will see pupils from aged two to 18 educated under the one umbrella establishment.

Joanna said: “We’ve had parents say to us before, ‘we love the ethos of the school and all its stands for, it’s just a shame we can’t send our boys too’. Now they can.”

Why Duchy College?

Highfield Nursery and Highfield Prep, together with Harrogate Ladies’ College, will rebrand from next summer as Duchy College. The name has been chosen as the buildings are on Duchy Road, in the Duchy area of Harrogate, leased from the Duchy of Lancaster and will honour the heritage and the heart of Harrogate.

Committed to the ethos

While the school roll may rise, the College doesn’t have ambitions to become a large school. Instead, the things that attract parents – its small size, nurturing environment and pupil-first ethos, will be maintained. Pupils themselves love the fact the school promotes individuality, and chose the motto ‘I Am Me’ for life at the school, feeling they can be their true, authentic selves.

Unique for Harrogate

As the phased introduction of co-ed provision comes in the College will offer a unique offering for local families, with both day and boarding opportunities. Currently 65 per cent of the school are day pupils, and the remainder boarders. And the flexibility to ‘ad hoc’ board when families need that support has a huge appeal for Yorkshire families.

Find out more about the facilities and mission of the new Duchy College, and inquire about places from September 2026, by visiting www.duchycollege.org.uk .