As the pupils return to Johnstone High this week, education chiefs are reassuring parents over the new management arrangements being put in place which they are ‘confident’ will give the school a fresh start.

Having come under fire with concerns that morale at the school was ‘at rock bottom’ after a series of controversies, parents have now been written to by the council to notify them about the new arrangements.

Michael Dewar has been confirmed as interim head teacher supported by Lynne Hollywood, an experienced education officer.

Staff at the school were left shocked last month after being told former head Walter Hayburn was to be ousted from his role after a whistleblower accused a member of staff of faking pupils’ exam work. Education officials and the school’s senior management team also attended a meeting of the school’s parent council on Monday night to discuss improvements for the school.

Councillor Jacqueline Henry, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Education Policy Board, said: “Change can sometimes cause uncertainty and I thought it was important to get the message out to the parent council and indeed all parents at Johnstone High about the new arrangements.

“There is a clear leadership structure in place supported by the senior management team.

“As with all our schools, we want the best for Johnstone High and we have put in additional resources and senior staff to help deliver that.

“I was encouraged at the positive input from the parent council in discussions with the school’s management at their recent meeting.

“We will look to maintain that dialogue in the coming months.” The news will no doubt come as a major relief for concerned parents of pupils at the school, who expressed fears things would ‘spiral further out of control’ if education bosses didn’t take action soon.

MSP Hugh Henry also told The Gazette he thought the school desperately needed a “fresh start” after a series of allegations involving teachers being either moved or suspended.

One of the biggest scandals to hit the school involved a whistleblower whose friends said his life has been made ‘hell’ after he raised concerns over exam cheating.

The allegations came just days after a chemistry teacher was suspended from the school following claims he slept in a bathtub at a prom party.

Speaking of the latest changes being brought to the school, Hugh Henry MSP said: “I’m delighted that the director of education has taken such decisive action.

“I hope that the new management team at Johnstone High will provide the leadership with the fresh start that it needs.

“This is a good school and staff and pupils deserve our support. I think parents and staff knew that something had to be changed, and I hope that this is the change Johnstone High needs.”