Proposed change of Millais Secondary - consultation

We have received the following from West Sussex County Council.

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We are writing to update you on the plans for consultation on a proposal to change the status of Millais School in Horsham from a single sex girls’ school to a co-educational school. The original engagement which led to the development of the proposal in 2024 is attached for reference and more details can be found on the West Sussex Engagement hub.

https://yourvoice.westsussex.gov.uk/millais

Getting the right decision on the future of secondary education choices for parents and young people across the Horsham area is important to us. Everyone with an interest in that ambition and who wants to have their say is being given another opportunity to do so. The County Council took a decision approve the proposal in March 2025 after a formal consultation on a published proposal.

We have since reviewed the arrangements and advice surrounding that second consultation exercise and have decided to cancel that exercise and the decision arising from it. There will now be a fresh full consultation which all are invited to contribute to – including those who responded to the 2024 engagement process. We wish to make clear that we will consider or re-consider all responses and representations – including views previously expressed. We have acted promptly to concerns raised about the previous process and want to make sure there is time for everyone to respond before the end of the current school year.

We have today republished the statutory notices seeking views from the public and stakeholders. The four-week representation period runs from 19th June to 18th July 2025. Once the deadline for providing representations has passed and any feedback received and considered, the designated Cabinet Member will be asked to decide whether to proceed with the change of status of Millais School to a co-educational school. All views and comments will be analysed and considered against the reasons for presenting the proposal following the consultation we carried out last year. A full report will be made public for consideration by the decision-maker within the County Council. We are hoping that their decision will be made before the end of July but that will depend upon the responses we get, and the time needed to consider them fully.