Immanuel head warns of ‘testing and uncertain time for staff’

Immanuel College’s interim head has written to parents at the Bushey school to confirm “long-overdue structural changes” to “ensure that we are on a firm financial footing.”

In his March update to parents Mike Buchanan, who replaced former head Gary Griffin in an interim role in January, wrote of “steep energy price increases and operating costs.”

He said the “majority” of the schools spending was “on staffing” and then revealed “we are currently consulting with some staff about how to address the increase in costs.”

Buchanan added that by doing so “the College will be on a firmer financial foundation.”

He added the “consultation” with staff was expected to be concluded in the coming weeks, but and claimed the changes would not impact on the “overall provision at Immanuel.”

But Buchanan admitted: “This is a testing and uncertain time for staff and some of their understandable anxiety may have been apparent to you and your child.”

The interim head said he was confident staff would continue to act “in a professional manner.”

Buchanan was previously Head Master at Ashford School and Senior Deputy Head at Highgate School, before moving to the Bushey College.

Ex-head Griffin had stepped down last August following four years in charge of the school, after overseeing improved grade and an ‘excellent’ record according to the inspectorate.

Praising Griffin for “modernising policies, procedures and facilities whilst recruiting high quality staff and restructuring the Senior Team”, the College said finding a permanent replacement is “not an easy task”, but the process had already begun.

In December Immanuel named Joanna Ebner as its new headteacher, but she does not start in the role until September.

In a statement, the school said she “has an outstanding track record of growing and developing schools and is personally engaged in the heart of the Jewish community.

“We believe she is extremely well placed to build on Immanuel’s past successes by creating and implementing a visionary strategic plan to take Immanuel forward to new heights over the next five to 10 years.”