School leaders are opening up the expo to public scrutiny and encouraging families to attend.

The school, with a 123-year tradition of being a boys-only educational establishment, late last year decided to open enrolments to secondary girl students. 

TAS headmaster Murray Guest said the expo would provide details about boarding arrangements, pastoral care and wellbeing initiatives, how girls will be incorporated into academic, co-curricular and leadership service, and adventure programs.

The new girls’ uniform will also on display.

Building work is under way to extend one middle school boys’ boarding house and to enable another to be vacated and refurbished for girl boarders.

“Clearly opening the gates to the other half of the population will bring the benefits of growth,” Mr Guest said. 

“These include greater teacher specialisation, wider subject choice, a broader and deeper co-curricular program, new facilities, and new support structures for both students and staff. Beyond that, our 

co-curricular program, from drama, debating and music to sports, service, leadership and the outdoors, will naturally benefit from coeducation.

“For our families – particularly our boarding families who may live a long way from Armidale – the decision to go co-ed makes TAS a single-family destination for brothers and sisters.”

The co-ed expo runs from 3.30pm to 6pm and will be held in the Hoskins Centre at TAS. 

Registrar Pip Warrick will also give a presentation, and visitors will be able to speak one-on-one with senior staff about specific issues, including academics, boarding, pastoral care and co-curricular life, in a relaxed and informal setting.