IT HAS been eight months since Julie Lodrick was appointed principal of The Mount School in York and she is still loving every minute of it.

Of course, independent girls schools like hers, which started in 1785, are in essence businesses, but not like any other. Ordinary businesses do not necessarily nurture fulfilled, educated lives. Hers does.

Julie is “boss” to 150 staff and 350 pupils across Tregelles junior school for three to 11-year-olds, and The Mount, a Quaker day and boarding school for 11 to 18 year olds (fees from next September up to £7,260 per term).

Her role, covering the two schools, is “a huge privilege”, she says. “Since its inception this school was pioneering in what it did for women in education, ensuring that by using highly qualified teachers, that they could get into university. From 42 girls in the eligible group last year we had five who went to Oxbridge.”

A passionate believer in girls’ schools, she is careful to point out that she is not against co-eds, but believes that single-sex schools are good for girls. “They learn in different ways from boys and staff understand how they learn. There is no stereotyping. For instance, maths and physics are not perceived as ‘boys’ subjects’, whichever subject they want to take, they can.”

Julie arrived in York after four years as deputy head of Farlington School, West Sussex.

She spent five years as housemistress at Queenswood School, Hertfordshire, during which she gained her Certificate of Professional Practice in Boarding Management with the BSA (Boarding Schools’ Association) from the University of Roehampton.

Originally she qualified as a music teacher, and was head of music at St Margaret’s Senior School, West Sussex, for five years. She is a classically trained singer and a pianist. And she loves running, even the occasional marathon. “It’s what I do to relax. I use it for thinking time.”

She is looking forward to next term, That is when her husband, Andrew Witherspoon, leaves Melville College independent boarding school in Edinburgh, as housemaster, to join her at her head’s house at The Mount.

She missed him, but the first year of any top teaching job was always all-consuming. “He’s a primary school teacher by trade and he will decide what to do from there,” she says.

Which job (other than your own) would you like to have and why?

Minister for Education, so that I can take the bureaucracy out of education so teachers can get on with the job of teaching.

Greatest achievement?

Personally, running my first London Marathon in under four hours (3 hours 55 minutes) and raising £3,500 for JET (Joint Educational Trust). Professionally, being appointed as principal of The Mount.

Biggest mistake?

I regret giving away my vinyl record collection.

What makes you most angry?

I don’t rant often but lying gets me.

What makes you laugh?

My brother because he is the antithesis of me; I tend to be quite serious and he is a natural comedian.

What fools do you suffer least?

Moaners.

Whom do you most admire and why?

My mother, who was brave enough to emigrate to Australia on the £10 scheme in the 1960s and made a success of her life out there. She then returned a few years later to marry my father and brought up her family while he was away at sea.

What do you need to make life complete?

The company of family and friends and the luxury of time to spend with them.

How do you relax?

Running, swimming and reading modern fiction.

Why do you make a difference?

At the heart of what I do is education. All teachers make a difference.

Name the organisation you see as the perfect one (not your own!) and why.

The original concept behind Anita Roddick’s Body Shop which combined an ethical approach with a successful business.

Favourite record?

Depends on my mood and what I am doing; usually Mozart when I am working (especially his piano concertos) and particularly The Killers and Scissor Sisters for running.

Favourite holiday destination?

Verbier, Switzerland.

Your epitaph

“She lived.”