Annabelle's world at King's College is absolutely prefect

A Whangarei teenager is excited and honoured  to have been  appointed senior girl at King's College in Auckland - the highest position for a female student at the school.
Annabelle Kerr has been boarding at the college for a year and was chosen in early December. She is following in the footsteps of her father, brother, uncles and cousins, who were all educated at the private Otahuhu school.
The 17-year-old spent her first three years at Whangarei Girls' High School before her parents gave her the opportunity to go to King's for her final two years. Girls have been boarding at the 114-year-old school for 30 years and although there's now 150 of them in Years 12 and 13, they're still the minority - there's 800 boys.
"Girls and boys are more mature by Year 12, and it's better that girls don't come until that level," Annabelle said.
"The food hall was my first big shock, and in the first few days while boys and girls were getting to know each other I kept thinking, don't drop the dinner tray."
At King's College boys were chosen for the role of head prefect, as were three of the four deputy prefect roles. In being appointed as the fourth deputy prefect, Annabelle would become the most senior girl in the school.
The main difference to the state school system was Cambridge exams, she said.
"It's international, you can learn different things, and you don't have internal assessments or credits. At times you're pushed beyond your comfort zone, but it's worth it."
Her mother Kim Kerr said the "old boys' network" was huge and particularly strong at King's College.
"Scholarships are available and you don't have to be brilliant, just show a desire to do your best."
Mrs Kerr said the school put the onus on students to realise the financial commitment parents were making.
Annabelle saw the experience as a step between home and university but said the transition was really easy because "everyone is in the same boat and you stick together."
King's College had a religious focus which provided an extra dimension to learning and the chapel was "like a sanctuary," Annabelle said. Getting an interview was a "big thing," she said.
"When I was told I had been chosen I was excited and honoured. It's good to give back to the college and I'm looking forward to making a difference by leading and getting everyone on board."
Her role will involve representing girls and organising functions such as reunions, leavers' dinners and the school ball.
A talented sportswoman and debater, Annabelle's  plans to study biochemistry at the University of Canterbury after leaving school.