Camden New Journal - News: School facing £500k debt battle loses headteacher

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Camden New Journal - by RICHARD OSLEY
Published: 14 February 2008

Richard Tanton has left his job at William Ellis

School facing £500k debt battle loses headteacher

Governors move to reassure pupils’ parents as deputy takes over

THE headteacher of a cash-strapped secondary school has resigned.
Richard Tanton stepped down from William Ellis School in Highgate Road, Highgate, on Thursday to pursue “new career opportunities”.
He has been immediately replaced by his former deputy Malcolm Rose, a long-serving teacher at the school, in an acting capacity.
The change at the top follows weeks of speculation about the financial state of the school, which is understood to be around £500,000 in the red. The debt arose after a budgeting error was made over payment for a new boiler.
Camden has demanded it repays the money within two years and a recovery plan has been mapped out which could see class sizes increase and staff redundancies.
Vernon King, chairman of the school’s governing board, said: “The governing body thanks Richard for his contribution.
“It will benefit the school if we are able to focus on the future, and build a closer relationship between the various stakeholders to develop a clearer and relevant vision of what William Ellis has to offer the current intake and prospective pupils in the coming years.
“The governing body will take the lead in this and will keep parents informed of all significant developments at the school.”
He added: “It is my expectation that the school will maintain the momentum and confidence that underpinned its past development, address the budget repayment and as an end result be a more inclusive school with a strong sense of purpose, challenging all pupils to give their best. Most importantly we want William Ellis to be a school where, whatever the circumstances, every boy enjoys their learning, wants to attend and finds success.”
Mr Tanton said: “I greatly enjoyed my time as headteacher at William Ellis School and it was enormous privilege to have been allowed the opportunity to work with the staff.”
Insiders suggested that Mr Tanton may have made up his mind to go two weeks ago and that he would seek a new challenge elsewhere, but every New Journal request for information in the past fortnight has been met with the response that the headteacher was off sick.

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