Press Cuttings 4 : St Elphin's School

Headmistress told: You’re surplus to requirements
- Published 31 March 2003

WHEN Erica Taylor was brought in as headmistress at one of the country's leading private girls' schools her appointment was widely applauded.

But less than two years later she has been declared surplus to requirements following the arrival of a part-time 'business manager'.

Mrs Taylor, whose teaching career stretches back over 30 years, was asked to leave u3,000a-term St Elphin's school in Matlock, Derbyshire, immediately.

The 51-year-old, whose husband David is an RAF officer serving in the Gulf, has been told she must also move out of her three-bedroom house in the school's grounds within weeks.

In the meantime, her u50,000a-year post is being temporarily filled by deputy head Dr Deborah Mouat.

The decision was broken to Mrs Taylor by the acting head of the board of governors and has shocked parents.

The campaign to erase Mrs Taylor has even stretched to covering her name on the school sign with sticky tape.
Yesterday Mrs Taylor, who has passed the matter to her lawyers, said: 'I was 'I really miss the school and all the girls. Until the time I received the letter I had no idea there were plans to make me redundant.' Mrs Taylor was head at two other leading girls' schools before she joined St Elphin's, which was established in 1844.

In January, the board of governors hired executive business manager George Tilbrook to assess the running of the school, which has 215 girl pupils, including 40 boarders, and 40 boys.
Just over a month later, Mrs Taylor was handed a letter telling her she was likely to be made redundant and was not required to be on the premises.

Letters were sent out to parents while staff and pupils were also informed there would no longer be a head at the Church of England school.

Mrs Taylor taught physics before becoming head at York College for Girls and later Queen Ethelburga's private girls' school in York, where academic standards soared during her tenure.

Yesterday Brian Martin, chairman of governors at Queen Ethelburga's, said: ' Everything went very smoothly when she was head here. We just can't understand what is going on at St Elphin's.' Parents said they were bewildered by the decision.

'She was a lovely lady and a good head,' said one. 'I just can't understand it at all.' Another said: 'Mrs Taylor was very good and well liked. It is very strange to run a school without a head.' But Mr Tilbrook, who works at the school part-time, said: 'The governors have for some time been reviewing the future strategy of the school and the restructuring and management changes were necessary. As a result, the governors decided that the position of headmistress in the school should be made redundant.' The school's examination results put it in the top 200 in the country last year.

Former pupils include Just William author Richmal Crompton and the novelist Penelope Mortimer.

Source: The Daily Mail, 31st March, 2003 by Sinead Mcintyre