Tributes have been paid to a former head teacher who died last week.

Harry Taverner was head teacher of Castle Rushen High School for more than 22 years.

He was appointed in 1976, and ’worked tirelessly’ for the school until 1998, before receiving an OBE for services to education in 1999.

Mr Taverner was the third head teacher in the history of the school.

He took over the school when it had just over 700 pupils, and oversaw the implementation of GCSEs, National Curriculum changes and a considerable increase in pupil numbers to more than 900.

In a statement, the school said: ’His greatest fear was that the bureaucratic approach to school administration was in danger of damaging the relationship-based approach of teaching and learning, which he strongly believed in.

’He is remembered fondly by staff, parents and students and has long retained the respect of those he worked with across the educational sector. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.’