Cambridge High struggles in hunt for new principal

Troubled Cambridge High School is having to re-advertise for a new principal.

The job has been vacant since Alison Annan resigned last August amid allegations of staff bullying and manipulation of exam results.

The post was first advertised in January but the school's commissioner Dennis Finn said none of 17 applicants was appropriate for the job.

Advertising straight after Christmas had been a bad choice and had not drawn as many applications as had been hoped.

"We had some very good applicants but they didn't meet all of our criteria," he said.

"I always knew it was something I would consider very carefully at the time. We are looking very much for the right person for the position."

Some of those interviewed had been shortlisted and would be spoken to again with the next lot of applicants, he said.

Delaying the decision to hire a principal caused "no disruption whatsoever" because acting principal Jim Bennett was doing a good job, he said.

"It might cause problems if the acting principals were chopping and changing but Jim's been stable."

The closing date for the job was March 24 and if all went to plan, the position would be filled before the beginning of term two in May.

- NZPA