THE new term has chalked up a memorable first for Yarm School.

Tradition was sent tumbling as the first intake of girls turned up for classes at the independent's preparatory school.

Yarm prep school and Yarm School announced a decision to go fully co-educational last Easter. Girls will be admitted to the senior school next September, but the first 43 entered this week.

The school has been preparing for the girls' arrival ever since the policy change was announced. The curriculum has been reviewed, policies re-written, new equipment and books have been bought and facilities for girls, including toilets, showers and changing rooms have been built.

Prep school head teacher, Mr Mike Abraham, said: "Yarm is very much a family school, and we had the feeling that if we opened our doors to girls there would be a groundswell of parents who wanted to make the most of it."

But many girls have joined who do not have brothers already at the school.

"The North-East is quite old-fashioned in many ways, but modern parents are looking for a co-educational environment," said Mr Abraham.

He said there was some resistance to the move. "People liked the school as it was, but I have known there was a need for this," he said.

The 43 girls aged between four and ten bring the prep school total to 311.

Yarm School head teacher, Mr David Dunn, paid tribute to the efforts of Mr Abraham and early school head, Mrs Wendy Young, in preparing for and recruiting the girl pupils.

"The fact that so many girls have joined is a vindication of our policy change," he said.

Mr Dunn said there was already strong interest in senior places for girls and was anticipating an extra-busy open day in October.

The new girls themselves seemed delighted with their new school.

Jasmine McKee, aged eight, from Eaglescliffe said: "I think I will like it. My classmates and the teachers have been really nice."

Sophie Styles, also eight, said the boys had been fine so far. "But I think the girls will stick together," she said.