A SECONDARY school vice-principal has followed her headteacher in being suspended from her post, the Star has learned.

Rainford High’s Technology College deputy head Sam Wells was taken off her duties at the school a day after Ruth Greenwood was suspended.

The school’s governors took action following concerns over Rainford’s leadership and management and both are now the subject of an investigation.

Last week’s Star revealed how Terry Rigby, the other vice principal, has taken the reins of the school temporarily following Mrs Greenwood’s suspension.

However, education chiefs in St Helens are keen to bring in a headteacher with significant managerial experience and a proven leadership pedigree to run the school until summer, when a permanent appoint will be made.

It had been thought one of the borough’s other headteachers may be tasked with overseeing Rainford and their other school.

However, a source told the Star a “high-calibre” leader has been identified from outside the local education to take charge until summer. An announcement could be made by the end of this week.

A change of leadership at the school for the long-term was envisaged weeks before Mrs Greenwood’s suspension.

She had informed the school before Christmas she would be leaving at the end of the academic year “to pursue personal interests outside education”, the school said in a letter to parents, and the forthcoming vacancy for a new principal was already being advertised.

The situation, meanwhile, appears to have had an unsettling effect on numbers of anxious parents who children are pupils. Labour councillors have expressed concerns about speculation and rumour, much of which they say is inaccurate or misleading.

St Helens Council, which as the local education authority is responsible for the school, has refused to comment further on the situation while an investigation is being carried out.

Education chiefs have been providing support to the acting head and his senior team.

As last week’s Star reported, there is concern within St Helens Town Hall that the school – which gets an able intake of pupils – is not reaching outstanding status in inspections.

In March last year an Ofsted inspection judged the school, with 1,591 pupils, as satisfactory and the 229-student sixth form as good.

Rainford is currently undergoing a multi-million development to improve its teaching facilities.

Last week’s Star reported St Helens Council had commissioned an independent report into Rainford High’s performance. The report had, in fact, been commissioned by the school’s governors.