Sydney girls’ school Ravenswood poaches from Knox as current principal heads to Cranbrook

Ravenswood School for Girls in Sydney’s upper north shore has poached its new head from a neighbouring all-boys school Knox Grammar, as its current principal ships off to Bellevue Hill.

Outgoing Ravenswood principal Anne Johnstone (second from left) with students. Picture: Supplied

Ravenswood School for Girls in Sydney’s upper north shore has poached its new head from neighbouring all-boys school Knox Grammar, as its current headmistress packs up and ships off to Bellevue Hill.

The $45,000 per year Uniting Church school in Gordon will lose its multi-award-winning principal Anne Johnstone in July, when she takes up a new post as the first female head of Cranbrook School in Sydney’s eastern suburbs ahead of its controversial transition to coeducation.

In an announcement to the Ravenswood community last week, the school council’s chairman Peter Roach confirmed current head of Knox’s Kindergarten to Year 6 preparatory campus Suzanne Floro had been selected as Dr Johnstone’s replacement “from a strong field of candidates”, and would commence in the role from Term 1 2026.

“[Mrs Floro] knows our School community and will be well known to many of our families,” Mr Roach wrote.

“Mrs Floro’s passion for embedding education, leadership, wellbeing and innovation inspired the Council … we believe Mrs Floro is the right leader to build on our strong foundations of educational excellence, Positive Education and innovation.”

Suzanne (Sue) Floro is currently the head of Knox Grammar's Preparatory School.

Before joining Knox in 2018, she had previously served as head of MLC’s junior school in Burwood and the deputy head of the primary years campuses at Trinity Grammar School and Tara Anglican School for Girls.

Meanwhile ‘up the road’ in Wahroonga, Knox Grammar headmaster Scott James was confirming the appointment to families, and that the school would be engaging a recruiter to find Mrs Floro’s replacement.

Knox Grammar School headmaster Scott James.

“Sue is a gifted educator and leader, and her legacy at Knox is felt across many students and their families. Staff equally have been blessed by her mentorship, and drive for innovation,” he wrote.

“Since Sue joined Knox in 2018, our NAPLAN results have consistently made us the number one non-selective school in NSW, and she has built a sense of community belonging, reconstructed the house program, and delivered a social justice program which is a highlight for many boys and their families.

“In Term 4, there will be many opportunities to thank Sue for her contribution and to wish her the very best for her next career step down the road at Gordon.”

Deputy Principal and Head of Junior School at Ravenswood Sarah Guy will step up as acting principal until the end of the year.

Originally published as Sydney girls’ school Ravenswood poaches from Knox as current principal heads to Cranbrook