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Elizabeth Stone has resigned as principal at Queenwood school and will take up the position as head of Winchester College in the UK.Credit:James Brickwood

Other former pupils include British explorer and mountaineer George Mallory,fascist leader Oswald Mosley,several members of the Bonham Carter family,English poet and journalist and a lover of Oscar Wilde Lord Alfred Douglas and Goodies comedian Tim Brooke-Taylor.

“Founded in 1382 as a boys’ boarding school,Winchester has the longest continuous history of any English school and is poised to introduce girls to the College for the first time,” a spokesperson for Queenwood school said in a statement.

“Ms Stone has been chosen as their first female head since its inception,and she will continue to lead this significant change,offering young women the opportunity to experience a unique educational experience at Winchester.”

Stone,who has been principal at the Mosman private girls’ school for more than eight years,will leave her position in June next year.

Winchester College is admitting girl students for the first time in its 640-year history.Credit:Getty

“This is a ground-breaking appointment and represents a triumph for women’s leadership. It is significant for education globally and heralds a change in the traditional ideas that have shaped school and female leadership in the sector,” the Queenwood spokesperson said.

Winchester will admit girls as day students in sixth form - the final two secondary school years - from September and as boarders from 2024.

“After almost a century of deliberation on the subject,we will in the next few years introduce girls into the school,initially into the sixth form,” Winchester says in a statement on its website.

“We want the school to welcome all who are capable of benefiting from the exceptional education Wykehamists enjoy. Added to this,the admission of girls will bring multiple benefits:new intellectual challenge;diversity of thought;broader horizons.”

The college was founded by William of Wykeham who was chancellor of England and bishop of Winchester.Credit:Getty

The school,one of the last four all-boys boarding schools in the UK and a long-standing competitor to Eton College,was founded by William of Wykeham who was chancellor of England and bishop of Winchester in the late 1300s.

Chair of Queenwood’s council,Dr Amanda Bell,said Stone’s appointment was an “incredible opportunity to further develop her leadership in education.”

“Elizabeth is an exceptional role model not only for our Queenwood girls and staff but for girls and women more broadly,” she said. “The Council and I would like to take the opportunity to thank Elizabeth for her significant contribution to the school and recognise the achievements that have occurred under her leadership.”

Queenwood will hire recruitment firm Odgers Berndtson to run a local and international search for a new head.

“With 12-months’ lead time the school council is confident of a smooth transition to the new principal. Ms Stone said she and the senior leadership team are absolutely committed to maintaining the ongoing success and stability of Queenwood and ensuring the school continues to operate as usual.

“I am privileged to lead an exceptional school community and to work with such an outstanding team of colleagues. The opportunities before Queenwood are exciting,and I’m delighted to have a further 12 months before heading to the UK,” Stone said.

Stone,a former maths teacher at Barker College,sits on the board of the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation. She was previously vice-principal at Cheltenham Ladies’ College in the UK and was the first woman appointed to a senior management position at Winchester where she held the position of “under master” from 2008 to 2011.

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