Women are finally breaking through the glass ceiling of senior judicial appointments.

Five of the 22 High Court judges announced yesterday are women – bringing the total on the bench to its highest, at 17. Six months ago there were only 11 women among the 110 High Court judges in England and Wales, and five years ago only five.

The announcements are a boost to the fledgling Judicial Appointments Commission, which has struggled to show that its transparent selection methods are making an impact.

Only two of the five women have been named: Sonia Proudman, QC, who was sworn in yesterday as Mrs Justice Proudman, and Elizabeth Slade, QC, to be sworn in next month. Women applicants had a far higher success rate: 11 women and 118 men applied for the 22 posts.

The commission was set up under legislation in 2005 to replace the “tap on the shoulder” selection system, which, despite reforms, was still seen as an “old boy network”. Now, all judicial posts are advertised and recommendations to the Lord Chancellor made solely on merit.

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