A YORK girls school which counts Dame Judi Dench among its former pupils has announced the appointment of a new principal.

Adrienne Richmond will take over at the helm of The Mount School from Julie Lodrick on January 1 next year.

Adrienne, who is currently deputy head at Durham High School for Girls, was previously director of studies at Newcastle Central High School GDST.

A member of the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate team which last inspected the all-girl Quaker school in 2012, she says she is excited to be The Mount’s next principal.

She said: “I applied having been drawn to the Mount’s progressive education philosophy, academic prowess and excellence in pastoral care. The Quaker ethos shines through every aspect of the school.

“When I was part of the ISI inspection team, I was deeply impressed by how very articulate, confident and composed the girls are. I look forward to building on the school’s successes.”

Julie Lodrick, principal since 2009, will move to Kent College in Pembury. The Mount was first established in 1785 by York’s Quaker community and has been at its present site since 1857.