Top new post for Napier principal

Napier Girls' High School principal Mary Nixon. Photo / Paul Taylor

After 10 years guiding the education of thousands at Napier Girls' High School, principal Mary Nixon will be leaving the school before the end of the year.

Ms Nixon will become principal at Takapuna Grammar School in Auckland in Term 3, replacing their long-term principal, Simon Lamb.

Napier Girls' board of trustees chairman Jude Minor said: "I am delighted for Mary Nixon. This new job is a wonderful professional opportunity for her and she will be such an amazing leader for Takapuna Grammar School."

Since taking on the role in 2006, Ms Nixon had delivered an increase in scholarships from 11 in 2010 to 44 in 2015.

Mr Minor said that placed Napier Girls' High School in the top 20 schools nationally in terms of scholarships achieved, with many of the top 20 being much larger schools.

"She has proven her leadership and will bring this to benefit Takapuna Grammar School," Mr Minor said.

"Back here in Hawke's Bay, she leaves an amazing legacy for Napier's young women, who have thrived and grown under the guidance of such a fantastic female role model. The academic results speak for themselves."

Ms Nixon said she was thrilled to be appointed to her new role but sad to be leaving Napier Girls' High School.

"The school here is in great heart with strong distributed leadership across the staff and student body," she said. "Napier Girls' has grown in strength in developing the academic outcomes and all-round success of students here over the past 10 years.

"I have enjoyed my time at Napier Girls' and am proud of the work done by all my staff and students to develop smart women who care about others."

Before becoming principal of Napier Girls', Ms Nixon had been deputy principal of Takapuna Grammar for two years.