Girl power on the agenda as principal looks to future at Islamic school

Girl power on the agenda as principal looks to future at Islamic school: "Mrs Nemec said she was aiming to help her students develop into articulate young adults who could rub shoulders with all levels of society.

She considered the school to be more liberal than some other, more established Islamic schools.

''Our approach is going to be far more liberal,'' Ms Nemec said. ''We will allow girls to access all subjects. Academically, we want them to be at the same level as boys at least. I want women to have high aspirations.''

Mrs Nemec said she believed her Christian beliefs would be no hurdle to leading an Islamic school. ''I don't have any plans to become a Muslim. While I can respect the religion, I am not part of it. I am looking at the common ground. When you look at the firm beliefs, there is more common ground than difference. It makes it easily reconcilable."