Head of top Sydney private girls’ school to retire after 30 years

When Jenny Allum was appointed principal of SCEGGS Darlinghurst almost three decades ago, she became only the fifth head in the history of the all-girls private school.

“I was interested in becoming a principal from early in my teaching career, and always knew that would be in a girls’ school,” she said. “I hoped I would be here for the long haul and have the longevity that the school prides itself on.”

In a letter to parents on Tuesday afternoon, the chair of the SCEGGS school board announced Allum would retire at the end of this year after serving as head since 1996.

Jenny Allum will retire at the end of this year after serving for three decades as head of SCEGGS Darlinghurst.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

“As only our fifth head in 130 years, Jenny is an outstanding educator whose leadership has been defined by an unwavering commitment to excellence in girls’ education,” the school’s chair, Sally Auld, wrote.

“Much has changed for the better at SCEGGS under Jenny’s leadership and her legacy is immense.”

Allum was appointed principal of the top-performing school at the age of 37, taking up the role after five years as manager of the curriculum branch of the Board of Studies. She started her teaching career in 1987 at another all-girls school, Abbotsleigh, where she was head of mathematics.

During her time as principal, SCEGGS has held a top 20 spot in the HSC rankings for the past decade.

Despite a love of maths teaching – she still takes a year 7 class once a week – Allum said a deep interest in policy and educational leadership motivated her to take on a head role.

“At 37, that was quite young to become principal. It did feel a bit risky, and I always thought if it didn’t work I could go back to maths teaching. I loved teaching, and it was always my fallback if I didn’t do a good job as head,” she said.

Interviewed by the Herald in 1995, Allum said she was undaunted by the challenge of becoming principal and being “in your late 30s or early 40s” was the right time to embark on such a role.

SCEGGS in Darlinghurst has had only five heads in its 130-year history.Credit: Edwina Pickles

While Allum said much had changed at the school, teaching fundamentals remained the same.

“Teaching hasn’t changed at all – not an iota. It’s about the relationship between the teacher and the student. An expert teacher who knows the student will know what they need,” she said.

“Whether that’s a quiet word, a joke or a strong disciplinary statement, they know what the right thing is to get the best out of the child. That sense of knowing the student and instilling a love of learning – that hasn’t changed.”

Allum said after decades of teaching in single-sex schools, she remains “completely committed to girls’ education”. “Building a strong feminist, independent school has always been my priority, and driving a strong school community where students feel supported,” she said.

The school’s governing council told parents it would spend coming months ensuring the next head was “the right person to lead SCEGGS in the next decade and beyond”.

“The board is also cognisant that there will be new challenges for our school to navigate in coming decades as the educational, technological and social context in which we operate continues to evolve.

“We will of course also be focused on facilitating a smooth transition as Jenny departs and our new head of school takes charge in early 2026.”

Allum is the second longest-serving head in SCEGGS’ history, with the school’s third head, Barbara Chisholm, holding the role for just over three decades before retiring in 1977.

The school has appointed recruitment firm Korn Ferry to conduct the search for the new head.

SCEGGS, which charges almost $50,000 for year 12, is one of several top private schools to announce a new head in recent months.

Anne Johnstone was appointed as the first female head at Cranbrook in November, while Wenona has appointed Linda Douglas, former head of a Melbourne girls’ school, to replace Briony Scott, who was head for 14 years.

Private boys’ school Shore appointed Peter Miller principal to replace veteran headmaster John Collier, while St Aloysius’ head Mark Tannock started as St Ignatius’ College Riverview’s head this year.

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