BOYS at one of Oxfordshire’s top schools are set to answer to a woman headteacher for the first time in its 750-year history.

Felicity Lusk will become the first woman to lead Abingdon School when she takes over the reins in September next year.

Her appointment was announced yesterday and Miss Lusk, who is currently headmistress of the all-girls Oxford High School, said she was proud to break centuries of tradition.

She said: “It’s taken Abingdon School a long time and I’m very excited.

“I do feel that being the first woman headteacher is a bit special – but leadership in education isn’t about gender.”

Miss Lusk will be responsible for the education of 850 pupils as head of the independent school.

She said she felt it was a good time to leave her current school, which she has led for 12 years.

Miss Lusk added: “I’m hugely honoured, but also sad to be leaving my girls, as I told them at an emotional assembly yesterday.

“I think it’s great for my girls to see me as a woman going to be head at a boys’ public school. It shows them women can go anywhere.”

Miss Lusk will succeed Mark Turner to become the 52nd head of the boarding and day school, in Park Road.

She said: “Working with the boys will be a new challenge.

“I don’t know what they will make of me, but I’m from New Zealand, so hopefully my rugby knowledge will give me a bit of street cred.”

Miss Lusk, who plays the organ, studied music at Victoria University in Wellington, before becoming a music teacher.

She moved to England in 1990 and joined the Hasmonean High School in London. Miss Lusk was director of music at the school before becoming deputy headteacher.

She was appointed headmistress of Oxford High School in 1997.

David Lillycrop, the chairman of the governors at Abingdon School, said: “Felicity Lusk was the outstanding member of a very strong field of candidates. She’s an inspirational leader, as her track record at Oxford High demonstrates, and she has a great deal to offer the Abingdon community.”

Miss Lusk recently became an independent member of the standards committee of the City of London Corporation, which sees her check on the conduct of organisations in the capital’s financial district.

She is a past member of the Court of Oxford Brookes University.

l Wantage’s King Alfred’s Community & Sports College also announced the appointment of a new head yesterday.

Vice-principal Simon Spiers will become headteacher next September. He will replace Nick Young, who is retiring.