Hasmonean High School has launched a consultation with parents over formally splitting its boys and girls divisions into two separate academies.

The move follows a recent Appeal Court ruling against a Muslim school in Birmingham that it was illegal to entirely segregate boys and girls in the same school.

Hasmonean’s boys and girls divisions were amalgamated into a single institution in 1984 but have remained on separate sites in Hendon and Mill Hill.

Under the plan, Hasmonean would establish a Multi-Academy Trust running two academies, each with their own governing board.

The change was intended to put the school on “a more secure legal footing and to ensure compliance with equalities legislation”.

But it was not expected to have any “adverse financial impact”, parents were told, nor would there be any “substantive difference” in education for children.

Each of the two academies would have its own admissions number.

Under the proposed entry rules, “a child with a sibling who either attends either of the new academies or who attended the former academy would gain priority within the admissions arrangements”.