WHAT THE BOYS THOUGHT

REACTIONS OF SOME CONTEMPORARIES IN 2001

JONNY CATTO (96-03)

When word broke that girls would be joining our Lower Sixth year group it quickly became talk of the playground. Aside from the laddish bravado one would expect of 15-year-old boys, conversation usually included an element of debate:

‘for’: existing female friends joining; new friendships; and a positive influence in the classroom.

‘against’: talks of tradition and worries about longer-term impacts on boys’ sports teams.

Within my immediate circle opinions tended towards the latter, although this quickly changed as the reality brought all of the positives, few negatives and the realisation that a change in future direction need not detract from the past.

LIAM BEADLE (95-02)

A phrase the Headmaster used before a mixed group of parents and other interested parties remains with me to this day: ‘We all want what is best for the RGS’. I wasn’t so sure. Partly because of my formation at the school, I believed then as I believe now that institutions exist for the benefit of people, not vice versa. The arrival of girls to the school was a boon in so many ways, as the school’s life was enhanced. But at what cost to the boys of the city of Newcastle, for whom the number of places at the RGS inevitably fell? Pragmatism triumphed over principle, perhaps rightly, and I am sure we boys benefited as much as the girls; and even perhaps as much as the school.

MAX KRAMER (96-03)

I suppose 20 years ago my main feeling was nervousness. I’d found RGS a place where I was comfortable just being me, and I was worried this would change things and make us all terribly selfconscious and conformist. In retrospect I think I was half right. It did change things, but by making us more humane—a wonderful development!

LUKE ROBERTS (96-03)

My memory is of the RGS being quite a macho and competitive environment, of not really liking it, and of hoping going co-ed would change it. That was probably too much expectation to lay on the shoulders of the 20 or so young women who joined in my year, but I can only assume that by now it is an egalitarian utopia.

MATTHEW LLOYD (96-03)

I could not quite believe it when we were told that a group of girls would be joining us in Sixth Form. Already the ascent to Lower Sixth symbolised the arrival of previously unknown freedoms. Now girls were coming to enjoy those freedoms with us. I remember quite a lot of hoo-ha about it: would they distract us, would we distract them, would anyone get any work done? In the end, 22 individuals, with great poise and inner strength, joined our community and brought with them fresh voices, energy and ideas. It was a remarkable breath of fresh air.