Headteacher Paula Whyte, who joined St Aloysius’ College three years ago, said she was ‘delighted’ to offer places to girls

• IT was announced that St Aloysius’ College would begin admitting girls in September 2024, (After 140 years, head ‘delighted’ to welcome girls at St Aloysius, September 1).

It made out as though this change was irrefutably good and its thinking wise.

Islington, first of all, has two girls’ and boys’ secondary schools.

There is an equilibrium, so why disturb the balance? Supposedly headteacher Paula Whyte’s belief in equality of opportunity underpins this decision.

Surely any decision that creates an imbalance of schools, admits fewer boys, and reduces the year group from 180 to 120, only removes opportunities.

Poor reasoning is one thing but there was also a lack of any real discussion of the matter.

Single-sex education is an ideal setting for any young person.

Why? Because it keeps most youthful love away from the classroom, thereby freeing students to focus on their education, and because students have a chance to develop into adults by acknowledging the difficulties of maturing.

By doing so children understand more about themselves and their obligations to others. Many parents recognise these points, and it must be understood that coeducational schools are not the cradle of good education.

This decision which “delights” Paula Whyte is even more shameful considering the school’s history. Its 140-year tradition of teaching boys is something that we should view with some respect, at least. But since there was no real explanation, it displays a level of disrespect.

I would argue some things are bigger than us all. You would think that a Catholic school would grasp this. Yet in some ways I am not surprised for I recognise the names of only a few teachers despite leaving less than 10 years ago.

We cannot reasonably expect staff to respect the school’s history when most are new. It seems that only the old school building reflects its history, and all else has been hollowed out.

The least the headteacher could have done is penned an article and proposed, not merely informed.

JLW, N1