Cranbrook School poaches Ravenswood School for Girls principal Anne Johnstone to captain co-ed transition

The headmistress of a prestigious girls’ school on Sydney’s upper north shore is ending her tenure to become scandal-plagued Cranbrook School’s first ever female leader. Here’s how her current school broke the news.

Troubled eastern suburbs boys’ school Cranbrook has appointed a new head, poaching a girls’ school principal from Sydney’s north as it prepares to go co-ed.

The headmistress of a prestigious girls’ school on Sydney’s upper north shore is ending her nine-year tenure to become scandal-plagued Cranbrook School’s first ever female leader.

Ravenswood School for Girls principal Anne Johnstone has been appointed head of the $46,000 per year Bellevue Hill boys’ school, whose previous headmaster Nicholas Sampson resigned in March amid immense scrutiny over his handling of sexual misconduct allegations.

Sampson, who was reportedly receiving a $1.5 million per year paycheck prior to his departure, quit after being accused of failing to disclose to the current school council that he had retained a teacher who had sent sexually explicit emails to female ex-students at his previous school after they graduated.

However Sampson had in fact notified the sitting school council some ten years earlier when he was first alerted to the allegations, and the school settled for an undisclosed sum believed to be worth the remainder of his contract to 2026.

Cranbrook’s culture was the target of an investigation by the ABC’s Four Corners program earlier this year, which aired damning allegations including that it was “toxic” for female staff and prompted the school’s council to enlist Queenwood chair Dr Amanda Bell to conduct an external review.

Ravenswood School for Girls principal Mrs Anne Johnstone with student leaders.

The six-month review resulted in School Council president Geoff Lovell apologising for “past failings” in a letter to parents, “increased resources and training” for pastoral care and the introduction of a “new respectful relationships policy”.

All the while, Cranbrook School – which has exclusively enrolled boys for its entire 106-year history – is preparing to transition to coeducation with the first cohorts of female students to join the senior school in 2026.

Ex Cranbrook principal Nicholas Sampson resigned earlier this year.

The Cranbrook School Council put out a humbling statement after reaching a confidential agreement with Sampson.

Mrs Johnstone’s appointment was announced to staff at Ravenswood this afternoon and shortly thereafter, Ravenswood Council chair Peter Roach wrote to families and alumni to inform them of the “sad” news.

In the letter, Mr Roach confirmed their award-winning principal would remain at Ravenswood until the end of Term 2 next year before beginning her new post at Cranbrook in Term 3 “after nearly a decade of exceptional leadership”.

“It is with much gratitude, sadness and also a sense of pride that I bring you this news,” he said.

“Anne’s unswerving commitment to helping students fulfil their potential and flourish has seen the embedding of positive education and wellbeing across the entire school and curriculum.

Cranbrook School is one of Sydney’s most expensive, charging families up to $46,500 a year. Picture: Christian Anstey

“I would like to congratulate Cranbrook School on its superb choice of leader – the love, intellect, compassion, wisdom and expertise that Anne has afforded Ravenswood will stand Cranbrook and its community in great stead for the future.”

Mr Roach’s letter also hinted at the challenge Mrs Johnstone will face in guiding her new school through one of the most turbulent periods in its history, and the start of a new era.

“You will have heard Anne talk about having enough grit to lean into a challenge – she has found her next challenge and has the conviction to follow that passion,” he wrote.

“As a Council, we admire this attitude and the role modelling it provides to our girls – especially as she will be becoming the first female leader of Cranbrook in its 106-year history.”

Ravenswood School for Girls Council chair Peter Roach announced the news to families on Thursday afternoon. Picture: JBWere/Supplied

The outgoing Ravenswood principal will spend the day on Thursday informing students in person, year group by year group, as well as meeting with families and other stakeholders.

Her replacement will be recruited by the School Council, who will commence the process “ahead of 2025”.

Cranbrook Council chair Mr Lovell said the school is “fortunate” to have enlisted Mrs Johnstone “at this exciting time for Cranbrook”.

“Alongside her personal warmth and energy, Anne clearly demonstrated the desire and capacity to enable Cranbrook to reach a new level by shaping our students and developing our staff.”

In a statement, Mrs Johnstone said she was “delighted” and “invited to lead a school with such a vast and significant history of educating boys”.

“I am also excited about the great potential and opportunities ahead as we welcome girls to Cranbrook from 2026 and work together to become a world-class coeducational school,” she said.