Walford Anglican School for Girls principal Rebecca Clarke to move to Methodist Ladies’ College in Perth

The principal of Walford – Adelaide’s most expensive independent school – has announced she is leaving. See where she’s going and what her new role is.

Walford Anglican School for Girls will begin a national search for a new principal to replace Rebecca Clarke, who is moving to Western Australia.

School governing council chairman Peter Hastings has written to the community saying Ms Clarke will leave at the end of the year to take up the principal role at Methodist Ladies’ College in Perth.

Ms Clarke has been Walford’s principal since 2012, and also headed up its middle school between 2002 and 2006.

Mr Hastings said the Hyde Park school looked forward to celebrating her achievements before she, her husband James and son Thomas moved to Perth – the home city of James’s family.

“The council will undertake a national search to secure the best talent to lead Walford,” he said.

Mr Hastings said Ms Clarke would leave with the school’s best wishes and gratitude.

“Over her tenure, Rebecca led the creation and consolidation of a learning environment that gives Walford an edge as a high performing and desirable place in which to prepare girls for a lifetime of achievement,” he said.

Pamela Martin, Rebecca Clarke and former premier Steven Marshall celebrate the opening of Walford’s commemorating the opening of the Ellen Benham Science Centre at Walford.

Ms Clarke said after a combined 15 years of service at the school, Walford was “part of my blood”.

“The opportunity to lead Perth’s pre-eminent girls’ school after the privilege of leading Adelaide’s is a great opportunity I can’t refuse and I’m looking forward to it,” she said.

Among her proudest achievements at Walford were helping drive her “amazing” staff members’ leadership growth, and seeing the number of graduates going into science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics career pathways rise to more than 50 per cent.

As reported by The Advertiser, latest data from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority shows the school had 492 students last year, recording a dip in enrolments each year since 2016, when 618 girls attended the Hyde Park institution.

In response the school said throughout its 130-year history, enrolments expanded and contracted to an “optimal mid-range” of 456-650 students, retaining its boutique and family-focused ethos.

“Enrolments are poised for ongoing optimal growth that won’t exceed that which we see as a desirable level to offer a personalised education,” Ms Clarke on Wednesday told The Advertiser.

The pandemic also had an effect on enrolments, it said, with a dip in international student enrolment numbers – but they were starting to return to pre-pandemic levels.

The school charges $28,580 for year 12 students to attend.

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