By Jenni DixonA HEADTEACHER has heralded a new era at a Southwold school after it admitted boys for the first time in its 106-year history.Seven boys joined the register at St Felix School - which had previously been a girls-only school - at the start of the new term yesterday.

By Jenni Dixon

A HEADTEACHER has heralded a new era at a Southwold school after it admitted boys for the first time in its 106-year history.

Seven boys joined the register at St Felix School - which had previously been a girls-only school - at the start of the new term yesterday.

St George's Junior School was amalgamated with St Felix School last year after financial difficulties almost forced them both to close.

The decision was taken to welcome boys into its senior school following overwhelming support for the proposal from parents. The senior school now plans to be fully co-educational by 2007.

Headteacher Wendy Holland, who is retiring at Easter after 14 years at the school, said: “We do not want to be known as a failing school or a school in danger. I do not want the difficulties we went through brought to the forefront anymore.

“We have 60 new pupils this year, the number of boarders has doubled and we have taken on more staff. You should never look back and say 'If only'. That's history and gone, you should always look forward.”

Deputy headteacher, Sue Greenfield, who has been at the school since 1980, added: “Now boys have a fantastic opportunity to move through the school, which was always the difficult when we didn't take boys.

“We're all looking to the future and it's all so exciting. St Felix and St George's schools have always been very close and now we are like one big family.”

St Felix School started off with seven pupils in Aldeburgh in 1987. It now has 405 pupils aged between two-and-a-half and 18, with 65 boarders, 80 staff, an indoor swimming pool, a sports centre and a rugby pitch to cater for its new boys.

Three of the new Year Seven intake, George Adey, Dominic Church and Daniel Liddell, said they were looking forward to a new school year and really excited but nervous about starting.

Daniel's father, Daniel, from Benacre, was there to see his son not only start his ninth year at the school, but also enter the history books.

“I think it's fantastic piece of history, although at that age I don't think Daniel will appreciate being only one of seven boys amongst so many girls,” he said.

The school is also opening this year a new nursery at its Bronte House Pre-Preparatory School for youngsters aged from one to two-and-a-half as there was a big demand from mothers who wished to return to work.

jenni.dixon@eadt.co.uk