DEMAND for female boarding positions at The Armidale School has been strong in the first few weeks of enrolment.
The paint colours have just been chosen and new carpet is yet to go down, but the first girls’ boarding house will be at least half full when it welcomes its first residents next year.
Built for junior boys in 1924 by Nora Dangar as a war memorial to her husband, the historic CC Dangar House is about to get a bright new makeover as ‘home’ to a 26-bed capacity girls boarding house, with more than half the beds already accounted for.
The 13 new boarders, from Sydney, the New England and North West, are among 35 new female students already confirmed enrolments at TAS next year, who will join the first four senior TAS girls who started Year 12 this term.
The construction of a new wing onto White House is on schedule, which when finished, will accommodate all middle school boy boarders. Those currently residing in Dangar House will move later this term, allowing refurbishment to begin. Headmaster Murray Guest said the school had been heartened by the strong interest from families and girls wishing to start at the school as both boarders and day girls.
“This is an historic time for TAS and to know that Dangar House will be at least at 50 per cent capacity when the next term starts, is good news indeed,” he said.
“It is clear the decision earlier this year to move to full co-education has been welcomed by families who are seeking the same opportunities for girls, as families of boys have been able to do since the school opened its doors in 1894.”
