The new decade has brought some historic changes to a girls' private school.
After more than 200 years, St Margaret's in Bushey has welcomed boys onto its campus, as it implements a commitment it made last year to make the school more 'co-educational'.
Male pupils have begun at the junior school at key stage 1 and in pre-reception from the age of three. More boys are enrolled and set to join in years’ 3 and 4 from September 2020.
St Margaret's was established back in 1749 welcoming both boys and girls before becoming a girls' only school in 1812.
For more than 200 years, it has been a boarding school and independent day school.
New head teacher Lara Péchard, who officially took up her new post in school this week, spoke about the exciting changes ahead.
She said: "This is a wonderful time for St Margaret’s and there is a real buzz of excitement amongst the pupils and staff.
"The boys seem very at home and it feels very natural having them around both in the classroom and in the playground. The school has always prided itself on its strong and diverse culture and being able to offer a warm and rewarding, collaborative learning environment for boys and girls, is something we are very passionate about."
New head teacher Lara Pechard
Liz Norris, head of the junior school, added: "The integration of boys and girls in our classrooms and playground has been extremely well-received and both by pupils and staff. As we embrace this period of change, our strong ethos remains the same as we continue to nurture each individual child and to ensure that their time at the school is a happy and progressive one."
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