CULCHETH High School has a new headteacher who intends to chalk up a continuing success story for his pupils and staff.

Geoff Caton from St Helens took over the top job from Acting Headteacher Alan Parkinson who was himself appointed to take over the reins in the wake of former head Hiliary Douglas.

Mrs Douglas was suspended prior to taking early retirement on health grounds.

For a while the atmosphere at Culcheth was tainted with rumour after Mrs Douglas' suspension which preceded the ordering of an inquiry into the way the school's finances were being run, though the Education Committee were at pains to point out at the time that there was no question of Mrs Douglas being involved in any wrongdoing.

Now Mr. Caton, a graduate of Oxford University, who has been a teacher for 27 years -12 of them in St Helens - says he is determined to further develop Culcheth High School.

He commented: "Culcheth High School has a very good reputation. A lot of good work has been done already and I hope to develop the school still further by working with the staff and discussing how we can do this."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.