One of the oldest boys’ schools in the borough has opened its doors to girls for the first time.

Cranbrook Grammar School, Mansfield Road, Ilford, has welcomed a number of girls into a variety of year groups after a “phenomenal year,” according to headteacher Ivan Mulinder.

He said: “Cranbrook boys are renowned in the community for being polite and courteous. This comes with the traditional values that have been instilled in our students for more than 100 years.

“Now that we are co-educational across all year groups, the boys have stepped up the ever-increasing challenge. “This has been a phenomenal year for Cranbrook, which recently received an outstanding Ofsted report, has injected �4.1million into facilities and has expanded the school to include a much-needed sixth form.”

Year 9 studentTalia Vellai, added: “I am really excited to be part of this new academic intake at Cranbrook Grammar.”