Cranbrook School, located in Bellevue Hill, made headlines when it announced its decision to become a co-educational institution. This move, marking a significant shift for the prestigious school, would see it accepting girls in years 7 and 11 from 2026 and becoming fully co-ed by 2029. The timing of this decision, as well as the manner in which it was implemented, led to a bitter dispute among the school’s former council members and ultimately resulted in the mass exodus of its council president, Jon North.
The program that sparked Sampson’s resignation as head of the school was shrouded in controversy. While Cranbrook made a confidential settlement with Sampson, citing confusion as the basis for his resignation, the specifics of the situation were not made public. Sampson had served as head of the school for a decade, and his departure, coupled with the school’s subsequent decision to go co-ed, set off a chain of events that would ultimately reshape the institution’s leadership and direction.
In the midst of these changes, Cranbrook announced the appointment of Anne Johnstone as its new head of school. She was praised by the chairman of the school’s council, Mark Lovell, for her leadership at Ravenswood School for Girls, where she had overseen a period of innovation and development. Johnstone’s tenure at Ravenswood saw an increase in demand for enrolments, the implementation of a positive education and wellbeing program, and a strong relationship with Ravenswood’s brother school, Knox. Her commitment to educational excellence aligned closely with Cranbrook’s vision and mission, making her a fitting choice for the role.
Following the announcement of Johnstone’s appointment, Michele Marquet, head of the junior school at Cranbrook and a veteran of 26 years, had been serving as acting head of the school. However, Stuart Meade, a former deputy headmaster at Cranbrook, would return to serve as acting head of school for term 2 next year, with Johnstone assuming her position at the start of term 3 in 2025. Marquet would then resume her role as head of the junior school, ensuring a smooth transition in leadership as the institution navigated its evolution into a co-educational establishment.
As the school continued to undergo changes, including the development of new co-curricular activities and the establishment of the Knox-Ravenswood cadet unit, it faced both challenges and opportunities in its transition to co-education. The appointment of Johnstone, along with the experience and dedication of longstanding staff members like Marquet, signaled a commitment to maintaining the school’s reputation for excellence while embracing a more inclusive and diverse student body. The coming years would prove crucial for Cranbrook as it navigated this period of transition and transformation, guided by a new leadership team and a shared vision for the future of the institution.
