A CO-EDUCATIONAL public school has appointed two boys as student leaders because none of its Year 12 girls were considered to be up to the job.

Traditionally, most co-educational schools have a head boy and head girl but Woodvale Secondary College has two “head prefects”.

This year, for the first time, the roles have been filled by two boys instead of a girl and a boy.

Principal Lea Fairfoul-Hutcheon said students were selected for the positions based on merit, not gender.

“The head prefects for 2017 were selected through a nomination and merit selection process and our strongest applicants were two males, which is why they were appointed,” she said.

“I think people would absolutely expect us to select the two candidates who are most suitable for the role — regardless of their gender.

“We have a total of 24 prefects at the school from Years 7-12, 16 of whom are females, not that it matters because they were offered these leadership positions on their merits — and they are all doing a fantastic job.”

Mrs Fairfoul-Hutcheon said students were asked to nominate for prefect positions before students and staff cast their votes.

“Selection of students was based on their record of service at school, their school history, interviews, speeches and of course the votes,” she said.

The school had not received any formal complaints from students about two boys being selected.

Speaking ahead of International Women’s Day today, CEOs for Gender Equity chairman Chris Sutherland said it had been proved that leaders made better decisions when they reflected the diversity of their community.

“I think it doesn’t make sense that you would appoint two male heads,” he said.

“It makes far better sense that we should be choosing one boy and one girl to represent the interests and diversity of the school.”

Mr Sutherland, who is also managing director of staffing and maintenance company Programmed, said the school may have been affected by unconscious bias when assessing candidates’ merits.

“I would question the way they are making those judgments,” he said.

“Merit is a very subjective method. Most organisations say they promote on merit and yet the majority of key roles in nearly all organisations are men, which suggests that something is amiss in the process.”