BOYS are lining up alongside girls for the first time in almost 150 years at an Abingdon school after it decided to become co-educational.

For the first time in its 149-year history, independent secondary school and sixth form Our Lady’s Abingdon has welcomed boys into its classrooms.

At the beginning of term, boys joined their female counterparts in Year 7 and in the lower sixth form.

Headteacher Lynne Renwick said the school made the change following requests from parents.

Mrs Renwick said: “This is the biggest shake-up in our history.

“Everyone is really excited about the effect it will have on the school. The girls have already said it feels like the boys have always been here. We already had a co-educational school (junior school), so it made sense to extend that. It’s particularly interesting because normally it’s boys’ schools which begin to accept girls, not the other way around.”

She said the move had resulted in a change to the curriculum, with robotics being taught for the first time. A specialist rugby teacher had also been hired, as well as a deputy headteacher with experience in working at a boys’ school.

The school, founded as Our Lady’s Convent School in 1860 by the Sisters of Mercy, has taken on 13 boys in Year 7 and eight in the lower sixth form. All the year groups will be co-educational by 2013.

Stuart Hawkins, 16, of Garsington, said he was enjoying the first term.

He said: “The girls are nice and have been really friendly, although they do like to talk a lot more than the boys. We’ve mixed well. We play them at sport, but they don’t have a chance of winning.”

Jim Trafford, 16, of East Hendred, joined the sixth form after attending the boys’ school, Abingdon School.

He said: “For me, it was a complete change, like going from one extreme to another. My sister used to go here and it’s got really good exam results, so that’s why I wanted to join. I was a bit nervous before I started, but that’s all gone now.”

The move has been equally well received by girls at the school.

Head girl Alexandra Leech, 17, of Abingdon, said: “It’s been a really positive change. It’s great in lessons because we have more interesting discussions with the boys’ point of view. The Year 7 boys even hold doors open for us.

“It’s early days, but it seems to be going well and I think it will just get better.”

Jessica Landy, 16, of Wantage, said: “In real life we will not be split up into boys and girls, so I think it’s really good that we mix.”