Hutt Valley High has appointed a new principal as it puts a tumultuous few months behind it.
The school's board of trustees said yesterday that Christchurch's Burnside High School deputy principal Ross Sinclair had accepted the position, taking over from acting principal Steve Chapman, who will resume anassociate principal role.
Allegations of drug-taking, a sex assault on a student and bullying and intimidation of teachers surfaced at the school last December.
The allegations sparked police involvement and five students were referred to family and youth courts.
The situation also sparked an external review, which was released last month and concluded the problems were isolated and the school was moving on in a positive way.
The report said a small number of students had been suspended or expelled this year because of unacceptable behaviour, but teachers and students largely considered the school "positive and settled".
Board of trustees chairwoman Susan Pilbrow said yesterday that Mr Sinclair was the "outstanding candidate" from a large and strong field of applicants around the country.
"Ross is an excellent motivator and has immense intellectual ability," she said.
