A SCHOOL from which the headteacher resigned following an expenses scandal has appointed a replacement this week.

Michael Kiely, who has been acting headteacher of Cardinal Wiseman RC High School, in Greenford Road, Greenford, since his predecessor Paul Patrick was suspended in April last year, was chosen by governors to lead the school on Wednesday.

Mr Patrick was arrested shortly before his suspension but the fraud charges were later dropped by police. He resigned in January, citing ill health shortly before the release of a damning report that exposed massive abuses and failings in the handling of the school's finances.

Mr Patrick's replacement paid tribute to his predecessor, who is widely credited with turning the school around.

Mr Kiely said: "I'm delighted to have been given the opportunity to lead the school. Paul Patrick will be a tough act to follow but we have a fantastic community spirit at the school and a very talented staff.

"We're about to embark on a major building project that will ensure we, along with the other high schools in Ealing, have world-class facilities. These facilities will allow us to engage even more with the parish and Ealing community.

"I look forward to our 50th anniversary celebrations in April and the school continuing to move forward successfully but always maintaining the 'Wiseman Spirit'."