Mr Geoffrey Hazell was addressing pupils, staff and parents at the school's annual Speech Day on Saturday.

Mr Hazell said: "Government initiatives in education pile up, one on top of another, and claims are made of staggering progress in some areas. Yet, in my humble view, four decades of persistent interference by the politicians seems to have achieved relatively little in comparison with the achievements of our direct competitors".

"I would like to see a period of 'hands off' by Westminster and Whitehall while teachers and parents are given the opportunity to develop good practice on the basis of common sense rather than abstract principles or political advantage."

Mr Hazell announced a series of new initiatives and developments. They included a review of the public examination areas of the curriculum – Lower Five through to Upper Six; a review of the assessment of years 7-9 (Upper Three to Upper Four); the extension of Internet access to every bedroom and study for sixth-formers; and further development of Mandarin teaching for all age groups.

Mr Hazell paid tribute to Deputy Head Miss Pamela Harrison who had combined the roles of Head of Sixth Form and Deputy Head during the 2007-2008 academic year.