BURY Grammar Schools have announced that they will be formally bringing together their two separate Sixth Forms from September 2018.

Bury Grammar School Girls and Bury Grammar School Boys will be taught in mixed classes but pastoral care will still be offered in single sex groupings, offering “the best of both worlds” to pupils.

An extensive Curriculum Review from Nursery all the way up to Sixth Form will also take place in view of national changes to Key Stage 1 and 2 curricula along with GCSE and A Level education.

Chair of Governors, Mr Laurence Goldberg, said: “I am delighted to announce this positive and exciting development for Bury Grammar Schools.

“This move represents a natural progression for our Sixth Form provision; we are confident it will benefit the pupils academically, socially and pastorally and ensure our continued success as a leading school in the region.”

The majority of all teaching will be in mixed groups but, at the same time, sixth formers will still be offered pastoral care in single sex groupings.

Current headmistress of the Girls’ School, Jo Anderson, will become Principal of the Schools while headmaster at the boys’ school, Richard Marshall, will oversee the curriculum review.

Both will continue to manage their day-to-day running of the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools and will still play a hands on role.

Jo Anderson said: “I am honoured to have been appointed to lead Bury Grammar Schools at such an exciting time in its 450 year history.

“The two schools have worked more closely than ever before in the past two years and this is just the natural development.

“There may be some students who prefer to study in single sex areas and that option will still be available which I think is really important.

“This offers them something quite unique in the area and they really are getting the best of both worlds.”

Mrs Anderson added that everyone involved was confident that class dynamics would not change and that mixing them would actually benefit the pupils going forward.

The curriculum review, which stemmed from recent major changes to education nationally, will be wide ranging and could involve changes to the amount of teaching time devoted to each subject and the range of skills and opportunities that are offered.

Richard Marshall said of the Review: “This wide ranging review is vital in ensuring that all pupils continue to benefit from a challenging, dynamic and inspiring curriculum throughout their time with us, which will prepare them well for life beyond Bury Grammar School.”

Jo Anderson said reaction from parents so far had been “entirely positive.”

Drop in centres will be held for people who would like to discuss anything regarding the announcement.

It is not known for certain if staff numbers will alter until the curriculum review has been completed later on this year.