Cambridge High head boy teaching at school

1.00pm

A school rebuked for putting untrained teachers in front of classes now has its head boy teaching economics.

Cambridge High School's Oliver Searle said he had helped out the school yesterday by taking a year 13 economics class.

Oliver, a staunch supporter of his former principal, Alison Annan, took bursary economics last year.

Regular teacher assistant principal Martin Blackburn is on sick leave.

A recent damning New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA) report said the school had been using untrained teachers to assess students and help them gain NCEA credits.

Oliver said he could not make any further comment because a media ban had been placed on all staff and students at the school.

The head student was in Wellington earlier this week at a Youth Parliament where he spoke out to defend Cambridge High School and Mrs Annan.

The man who has been put in charge of the school, limited statutory manager Dennis Finn, said he was not aware of Oliver taking the class and if it was the case he would be ringing the school "right away".

"He can't do that," Mr Finn said.

"Of course he can't, absolutely not. I will be checking that with the school right away, but I do think Mr Bennett covered that off yesterday."

Acting principal Jim Bennett is on leave for 10 days.

He had arranged to take leave before he took up the position at the beginning of the week.

Meanwhile, Mrs Annan today laughed off suggestions she was seeking compensation of $2 million.

"I can't make any comment about it, but you have heard my reaction," she said.

Mrs Annan resigned last Friday. She had been principal of the school for 12 years.

Mrs Annan said she and her lawyers were still talking about the nature of her resignation.

Earlier this week Mrs Annan released a statement through her lawyers, LeeSalmonLong in Auckland, which said she was still confused about her employment status and as far as she was concerned she had not resigned as school principal.

"My future as principal of the school is now in the hands of others.

"I am not in a position to make any further comment on that aspect."

Mr Finn said there was no confusion on his part and as far as he was concerned, Mrs Annan had resigned.

- NZPA