THE principal of Tavistock Community College, Colin Eves, has resigned from his job, the board of governors confirmed this week.

Mr Eves, who joined the college as principal in 2005, did not return to the school after half-term. 

The principal of Okehampton College, Daryll Chapman, has been appointed as a temporary replacement. He will stay at Tavistock until the end of the academic year.

The college is awaiting the results of an Ofsted inspection which took place in January. It was put on a notice to improve last year.

The college's chairman of governors, Mandy Govier, in a statement issued to teachers and governors on Monday, said: 'Mr Eves was the driving force in the building of a partnership that resulted in the construction of a £3-million sporting facility with a floodlit international standard athletics track, floodlit full-sized international standard all-weather football pitch and a full upgrade of internal facilities, including the construction of a fitness suite and dance studio.

'Under Mr Eves' leadership the college has also worked hard to improve behaviour and reduce exclusions. The governing body wish him well for the future.'

A spokesman for local education authority Devon County Council said no further comments were being made in addition to the statement about the resignation.

A governors' meeting to discuss the resignation was due to be held this week as the Times went to press .

Mrs Govier said Daryll Chapman had this week been meeting as many people as possible at the college and had been very positively received by staff and students.

'Obviously, they have lots of questions and Daryll has been seeking to provide answers while ensuring that it's business as usual with the focus on learning,' she said.

'We are particularly concentrating on those students who will be taking exams in the next few months.

'I and my fellow governors at Tavistock College will be working with Devon County Council to put in place a process of recruitment for a new permanent principal and we will be advertising the post in due course.'

Tavistock College was given a notice to improve a year ago. Concerns remained after a follow up visit by Ofsted inspectors in July but they did accept that the school was making satisfactory progress in addressing the issues for improvement and in raising the pupils' achievement.

Alison Wright, a governor of the college for 18 years, said her personal view was that Mr Eves' headship was the best thing to happen to the college in all of that time. Working with him had been 'rewarding and inspirational'.

She said: 'He brought to the college a clear vision for raising

student achievement, a refreshingly positive attitude, courtesy, modesty and total commitment to working tirelessly in the best interests of the students, staff and wider community.'

Examples of his work included his plans for dealing with major and potentially difficult problems, such as the national budget shortfall, which were decisive, transparent and effective, she said.

'A whole new and carefully-planned management structure was efficiently put into place last term, linking together the highly complex workings of this large organisation into a cohesive whole.

'I am immensely sad that he felt it necessary to resign at this time, before the full impact of all his work could be seen.'