Felicia Kirk, who will take over as head teacher of St Mary’s School in Calne later this year, said it will be an honour to succeed Helen Wright.

Dr Wright, who is also president of the Girls’ Schools Association, will leave her beloved St Mary’s at the end of 2012, after almost a decade in charge.

She has been offered a job as head teacher of Ascham School, Sydney, which is one of Australia’s leading schools.

Dr Kirk, originally from Maryland, in the US, was announced as her replacement last week and said she was thrilled to be starting work in January.

She said: “St Mary’s is clearly a school which has high expectations and ambitions and I will do all I can to continue to develop the excellent education and the broader extra-curricular activities in the school.

“We can all be optimistic for the future of this remarkable school because of the foundations which have been laid by previous generations of leaders, and I intend to use my European and American experience to bring a global perspective to each and every girl.

“My goal is to foster a love of learning and an ability to think critically and creatively that will allow our extraordinary young women to take the full range of opportunities that are opening up to them in the 21st century.”

Dr Kirk, 46, will move from her position in charge of sixth form at Ipswich High School for Girls.

Simon Knight, St Mary’s chairman of governors, said: “Felicia comes to St Mary’s as a passionate advocate for girls’ education and especially for innovative teaching and learning in a boarding environment.

“Her global reach and, in particular, her knowledge of both European and American educational systems will ensure that St Mary’s remains at the forefront of academic excellence in this country.”