The English Schools Foundation has appointed its first Australian principal to take over the helm at Beacon Hill School in Kowloon Tong after three rounds of international advertising involving nearly 300 applicants. John Brewster, 40, from Melbourne, who is acting principal at Peak School and has been in Hong Kong for five years, takes up his post in January next year. After the second round of interviews last month, ESF chief executive Jonathan Harris had told the South China Morning Post it was essential the successful applicant had experience of 'international best practice'. He said around 60 per cent of the applicants had been from the UK, and that their outlook had been too parochial. 'Our general finding was that the UK people were too concerned with the national curriculum and how they do things at home,' he said. In addition to being focused on international best practice, the successful applicant would be someone who was 'outward looking, child-centred and inspiring', he said. Mr Brewster said he applied for the job on the third round of advertising because his contract at Peak School was due to end in December when principal Perry Tunesi returned from sabbatical leave. He wanted a new challenge, he said. 'I'm looking forward to it enormously,' he said. 'We've dwelt long enough on the negative aspects of what happened there. I want to see some good, positive stuff happening.' The post became vacant following the controversial resignation of Robert Lyden late last year after a report, commissioned by the ESF, by Ofsted-accredited inspectors found students to be seriously underperforming and blamed it on the school's leadership. Jonathan Straker will continue as deputy principal, a position he held under Mr Lyden.