ONE of the county's leading girls schools is to open its doors to boys.

Queen Mary's School, at Baldersby Park, near Thirsk, which has been all-girl since 1925, is to become fully co-educational from September 2004, after announcing closer ties with fellow North Yorkshire school Cundall Manor, at Helperby.

From the New Year, the two schools are to work closely together with a joint headteacher - Peter Phillips, the current head of Cundall Manor.

The decision follows the announcement that Queen Mary's joint principals Ian and Margaret Angus are to retire in December.

At present, the 250-pupil school has a mixed sex pre-prep school, but is girls-only for its day and boarding pupils from the age of seven to 16.

Cundall Manor is a co-educational prep school for children from two to 13 years. Within 18 months, Queen Mary's will take pupils of both sexes up to GCSE level.

Mr Phillips, who has been head of Cundall for three years, said: "I am delighted to be offered this position and am very much looking forward to developing further the potential of Cundall and Queen Mary's.

"Both schools are in strong positions and have excellent reputations which can be built upon.

"The high standards of education, the importance placed on each individual, plus the convenient and beautiful locations of both schools, means superb opportunities for children in this area."

Hugh Morgan-Williams, a governor of Queen Mary's who has children at both schools, said: "For some time we have recognised that combining the considerable strengths of both schools will enable us to offer superb educational opportunities to youngsters in this region.

"This is a most exciting time and we are looking forward to the future with great enthusiasm."

Former pupil Lucy Raines, 22, marketing manager of Scott Sports, in Cramlington, said: "Being an ex-Queen Mary's girl, I have emotional ties and it feels strange that such a good all-girls school will become co-educational.

"However, times change, things move on, and I understand why they are taking these steps. I just hope that Queen Mary's doesn't lose its individuality, because it was a special school."