The Head of Secondary at Saltus and five other teachers have been made redundant as part of a major restructuring at the school.

The shake-up was announced to teachers yesterday by Headmaster Ted Staunton, who was brought in at the beginning of the school year.

Mr. Staunton held a staff meeting attended by 130 staff members and broke the news of the changes.

Staff were told John Walsh, Head of Secondary, would be let go and the Centre for Learning would be completely reshuffled.

Mr. Staunton said: "The Head of Secondary, his position was declared redundant just before the end of year which is in keeping with the school's contract with teachers which is two terms notice and it's part of a restructuring and the reorganisation of the secondary department.

"The two deputy heads will be picking up the duties of John Walsh on an interim basis."

Mr. Staunton said no other heads or deputy heads were being made redundant and explained why the changes were made.

"This is part of an overall school improvement. I am a new head, not generally a new head but a new head at Saltus.

"The first four months were used as an observation, review and assessment period and we have decided to restructure the Centre for Learning and secondary department."

Mr. Staunton explained what will happen with the centre, saying: "It is a specialised staff of five.

"We declared them redundant and decided to have a recruitment for a different teaching category and we would replace the five centre for learning staff with a different category of specialised [teachers] and we feel it's more cost effective to deliver enrichment and support to teachers.

"We're going to increase the number and those teachers can reapply."

Asked if the restructuring had anything to do with this year's lower GCSE results, Mr. Staunton said: "I think I am certainly getting used to the small island environment and you know there are no secrets anywhere.

"Saltus has been disappointed with its GCSE's and I am here to try and improve all of that.

"The restructuring of these departments will be beneficial in terms of the exams.

"The school is the largest private school in the country, 1,068 pupils and like any school, a school of that size has issues and one area we think we can improve is discipline and we're trying to send a strong message to the students of what's acceptable and what isn't."

Mr. Staunton added: "They [the staff] heard it from the horse's mouth and they heard our decision to work on improvement.

"The next six months or so, we're trying to work out the kinks."

* Are you a parent of a student at Saltus? Are you concerned or happy with the restructuring? Please email mpearmanroyalgazette.bm.