BOB Dylan once sang that the times they are a-changing. And for students at Royal Grammar School, Worcester, this is ringing true.

For the first time in its 700-year history there are girls in the main school.

Twenty-one, to be precise.

The headstrong teenagers started their groundbreaking time at The Tything school earlier this month.

They've joined 97 boys in Year 12 and are making their mark in the sixth form.

It signals the end of an era for the boys, used to working in a single-sex environment.

But it is the start of a new dawn for the independent school. It will be fully

co-educational from pre-prep through to 18 in 2006.

"It feels good to be making history," said

16-year-old Anna Harlow, who transferred from Bromsgrove School.

"I thought it would be an interesting experience to study here.

"We've been told not to distract the boys with the way we dress, at least not for the first few weeks."

The school announced the decision to transform into a fully co-educational school in March 2001. It will be a gradual process, leading with the sixth form and an extension of girls in the lower years.

Until 2001, girls were only able to attend the prep school until the end of Year 3. This year, they will continue through the school and by 2012 they will be the first girls to be taught right up to 18.

However, the Year 12 cohort is the first batch of girls new to the school.

The 21 is made up of girls from neighbours Alice Ottley, as well as schools from further afield.

"I think it will be good for university not to go to an all girls school all the way through," said Chantelle Holland, who transferred from Alice Ottley.

"I know quite a lot of the boys already because we used to hang out together before. But some have seemed a bit apprehensive."

Imogen Venning, who was at Bromsgrove School before starting at RGS, thought it was a good idea to do something different for sixth form.

"I don't think we'll be intimidated by the boys," said the 16-year-old.

"Some of them seem quite friendly.

"My parents supported my decision - they thought the teachers were very enthusiastic.

"The new sixth form centre is also looking quite good."

The school, which dates back to at least 1291, has spent £230,000 on the new centre.

It houses almost all the lessons to be taken by the sixth-formers, as well as common rooms, study space and a

girls-only room where they can escape the boys.

"The girls who have chosen to tackle what was a boys school are a spirited lot," said head of sixth form Simon Woolcott.

"I think they will do the school wonders. There's a real buzz about the place.

"There was genuine shock at the start as some people don't like change, but we're giving more choice to more people."

To accommodate the introduction of girls into sixth form the school has had to alter the toilets, creating 11 new girls' toilets.

There have also been changes made to the first aid room and, of course, the girls-only space.

"We need somewhere to get away from them!" said Chantelle.

The boys at the school have taken the changes in their stride and are optimistic about the future.

"It's very good having the girls here," said school captain Tom Southall.

"I don't think they'll distract us but it will be interesting to see in a few years when there are girls throughout the school.

"But I think having girls in the sixth form to start with will have a positive effect on the lower school."

Seventeen-year-old Matthew Furlong said it was broadening the school's horizons.

"It gives the school an extra dimension," he said.

"I think our grades will rise because we'll have to apply ourselves."

The school was believed to be the only boys' school in the county and was one of only 50 in the country.

Now the boys will have the girls challenging them in a bid to raise standards.

"It's super having the girls here," said headmaster Walter Jones.

"Overall the school will be stronger for having girls - we're not the first school to go co-ed."

Kings School Worcester, formed as a boys' school in 1541, went fully

co-educational in 1991.

There are now only two single sex schools in the city - The Alice Ottley School and St Mary's Convent School.