St Hilda’s School Southport confirms Wendy Lauman as new leader after principal’s shock exit

The Gold Coast’s most exclusive girls school has confirmed its replacement leader after the shock exit of the former principal earlier this year.

THE Gold Coast’s most exclusive girls school has an interim leader following months of turmoil over the shock exit of the former principal.

Yesterday, the Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane confirmed in a letter to parents of girls at St Hilda’s School that deputy principal Wendy Lauman, who has served as acting principal since July, would take on the role of interim principal until the end of 2020.

Ms Lauman has been deputy principal for six years.

Dr Julie Wilson Reynolds left earlier this year. Photo: Supplied

The school is one of the Gold Coast’s most exclusive.

St Hilda’s School, with more than a thousand students from Prep to Year 12, saw the mysterious resignation of its principal, Dr Julie Wilson Reynolds, in late July.

The departure followed the exit of junior school principal Tracey Maynard, who left at the end of the previous term.

Little explanation was given for the reasons for both resignations.

Ms Lauman was described in the letter as the “best person to lead St Hilda’s in the immediate future”.

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“We are currently seeing many changes in the education sector, for example, the move to the ATAR system,” the letter read.

“Ms Lauman is a highly experienced educator who is trusted to lead the school as we realign to new systems of reporting.

“It is also important that our girls have a principal who is well known to them and shares the values of our Anglican ethos.”

St Hilda’s lost their principal in a shock announcement earlier this year.

The announcement followed two other high profile resignations.

Ross Boyle, head of teaching and learning, resigned from his role in October.

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Michael Conneely, head of mathematics, also reportedly resigned in the past month.

A spokeswoman for St Hilda’s School said the staff resignations are within the normal range for a school of this size.

“St Hilda’s employs more than 115 teachers including full-time and contractors,” the spokeswoman said.