Wesley College has been granted the right to choose girl students over boys in order to keep the prestigious school's coeducational balance alive.
The decision handed down by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Thursday gives the school an exemption from sections of the Equal Opportunity Act, continuing its efforts to manage to its boy-girl ratio since 1998.
The exemption allows the school to advertise specifically to girls, structure its waiting lists and offer scholarships targeted at girls.
"On current waitlist numbers, without an exemption, the gender ratio in 2021 will be 4:2," Wesley principal Dr Helen Drennan said in her application submission.
"Without the exemption, the proportion of boys would significantly exceed that of girls and make coeducation at the college unviable."
The school argued coeducation was important because it reflected the reality of society.
Objectors' submissions to the school's application came from parents of boys at the college.
"The school motto is "dare to be wise", not "dare to discriminate", wrote one.
"I oppose a 'girl quota' which will be anti-meritocratic towards boys," wrote another.
The exemption granted to Wesley College is valid for five years.
