Headteacher appoints two head girls as boys fail to make the grade

The headteacher of a Norfolk high school has defended his decision not to pick a new head boy for the coming academic year - insisting the girls were simply the best. Acle High head Tim Phillips spoke out in response to murmurings of discontent by some parents that the school had broken with a tradition of choosing both a head boy and head girl. In a recent selection, involving a written application and rigorous interviews by the head and two senior teaching colleagues, two head girls were chosen, Melissa Willrich and Alix Williamson.

And in a further blow to adolescent male egos, they will be supported by two deputy head girls, Maya Busby and Gabriella George. Mr Phillips said the selection process began with the school's 56 prefects being invited to apply for senior prefect positions, with head girls and boys being chosen from this group. He said: “We had 24 applications to be senior prefects, 18 girls and six boys, and we shortlisted 16 of those, 12 girls and four boys, for interview on the quality of their application and contribution to the school.



He said they eliminated a further two boys and two girls on the grounds they were not strong enough candidates, leaving 10 girls and two boys as senior prefects. He added: “Of these, the strongest by a long way were all girls so we chose two head girls and two deputy head girls.” Justifying the move, he said: “I believe in equal opportunities, People would have had a right to complain if I had appointed a weak candidate.

“I believe there is a wider issue of why the strongest boys don't put themselves forward for senior positions and we will be looking to work on that with students in Year 10.” Mr Phillips said it was important to have senior prefects showing the right qualities of leadership, teamwork and organisation because they were not token appointments. The intention was to develop their leadership skills by performing roles at school events such as organising car parking or acting as hosts.