Cowes Enterprise College: Principal Jonathan Russell resigns (Updated)

News has reached On The Wight that the head of Cowes Enterprise College, Jonathan Russell, has resigned from his post as Principal.

Readers may recall that the school was subject to an Ofsted inspection at the end of last month.

Special Measures?
Although the Ofsted report has not yet been officially released, rumours have been circulating around the Isle of Wight that Ofsted are calling for the College to go into Special Measures.

On The Wight reader, James Doyle, said yesterday that this is being challenged by the College.

Resignation or suspension?
Chatter amongst some pupils at the College yesterday was said to have “been that apparently he resigned”, but others say, “he is not resigning, I heard that he had to re-apply for his job/had been suspended and was having to be interviewed to get it back”.

Pupils who contacted On The Wight this morning (Friday) explained that they had been told that the Headteacher was ‘off ill today’.

Trust fails to provide statement
We approached the clerk of Governors yesterday to ask whether the rumours were correct. Our email was forwarded to Alan Wells who responded last night telling On The Wight that a statement would be released today.

The Chair of Governors, Alan Wells, who is now famously selective about the media he chooses to deal with, has as yet has failed to alert us.

The news has been reported by the County Press.

Update 16:49
The letter to parents
Thanks to On The Wight reader James Doyle, who let us know about the Parents letter now being available on the CEC college Website. We’ve embeded it below for your convenience.