"Published on Wednesday 16 April 2003 17:02 MAJOR changes have been made to St Elphin´s School in Darley Dale since headteacher Erica Taylor was ousted. A new position of principal has been filled by the former deputy headteacher Dr Deborah Mouat and the girls school is now accepting boys from the next academic year starting in September. It was announced former headteacher Mrs Taylor would go in March after the governors employed business manager George Tilbrook to study the school finances. Principal Dr Mouat will be helped by administrator Robert Smailes of chartered accountants Rothman Pantall. The news of the school now accepting boys received a warm welcome from governors, teachers and parents at a meeting on Monday said vice chairman of the governors and former pupil, Rosemary Chambers. She said: "Times change and most parents find life much easier if all their children can be educated at the same school, whatever their gender. "St Elphins is held in high regard and great affection. I am quite sure it is needed in this area and will benefit greatly from receiving boys. "As will the boys themselves from the excellent education they will receive. "Next year 2004, St Elphins will have been on its Darley Dale site for 100 years. It intends to be there for another 100 years." St Elphins is the second oldest girls school in the country and was founded in Warrington in 1844. Following the closure of public school Stancliffe Hall in Darley Dale in 2001, St Elphins took junior boys up to 11-years-old. By Matt Barlow" Reprinted by kind permission of Matlock Mercury |
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