Huge change coming to elite private boys’ school Cranbrook after it announced plans to go co-ed

An elite private boys’ school has appointed its first female principal since it was founded over a century ago.

Current Ravenswood School for Girls principal Anne Johnstone will become the new head of Cranbrook private school in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, which will be fully co-educational by 2029.

The historic announcement to students and staff was made on Thursday, stating that Ms Johnstone will take up the top job from the start of Term 3 in 2025. The Sydney Morning Herald reports this.

The Ravenswood principal will replace former Cranbrook principal Nicholas Sampson, who resigned from his $1 million-plus-a-year role in March following allegations of workplace bullying and historical abuse at the elite school.

Cranbrook council leader Geoff Lovell wrote in a letter to parents that the appointment follows a “competitive recruitment process” that included an extensive global search conducted by recruitment agency Korn Ferry.

“The board was impressed by Anne’s energy, warmth, intellect, wisdom, depth of teaching experience and by her values,” he wrote.

‘The council is confident that in the appointment of Anne as our new headteacher, we have found a leader who can fulfill the hopes and ambitions of the school community.’

‘And guide Cranbrook to become the very best co-educational school it can be.’

Sydney’s exclusive all-boys school Cranbrook (pictured) is in the spotlight after ABC’s Four Corners program exposed allegations of bullying and a toxic culture

Ms Johnstone was an English and history teacher before taking the top job at Ravenswood on Sydney’s north shore in 2016.

She was previously principal of Seymour College in Adelaide and deputy principal of St Catherine’s private Anglican girls’ school.

Mrs. Johntone was also the principal of St Catherine’s primary school.

Cranbrook has been in the spotlight since the ABC’s Four Corners exposed claims of bullying and a toxic culture on March 4.

One of the allegations was that a female teacher was the victim of an attempted blackmail by a male student, who demanded that she send him nude photos.

Other allegations emerged days later, claiming Mr Sampson knew a teacher had sent sexually explicit messages to a former student but had failed to tell the council.

Cranbrook’s former principal Nicholas Sampson (pictured) resigned in March after allegations of bullying at the school came to light, but had a confidential settlement with Cranbrook in June.

The Four Corners investigation led to the resignation of Mr Sampson, who had been head of Cranbrook for 10 years.

The school reached a confidential settlement with the former principal in June, saying the reason for his departure “may have caused confusion.”

The $46,500-a-year school lists the late billionaire Kerry Packer and his son James among its alumni

The school announced in 2022 that it would accept girls in years 7 and 11 from 2026 and would be fully co-educational by 2029.