MASSIVE debts at Ryde High School have been blamed on top heavy management created under ex-headteacher Linda McGowan.
The school is expected to end the year almost £1 million in debt, according to a report by director of resources David Burbage presented to the overview and scrutiny committee on Thursday last week.
Cllr Colin Richards said: "How on earth do you end up with a school in £1million of debt?"
Chief executive Steve Beynon said the overspending issues started five years ago when a top-heavy management structure was implemented by the headteacher at the time, Ms McGowan.
She was sacked in March after being suspended on full pay for two years but the costs of her suspension and sacking had been met by the IW Council.
The situation was made worse because, due to its poor reputation, less children were going to the school.
That meant the amount of money it received had been cut, although it had not been able to reduce staff numbers because of the numbers of students midway through GCSE and A-levels.