The Scots College has announced a new management committee. Credit:Edwina Pickles "The application of the governance model being pursued by the Council was resulting in corporate objectives out weighing the educational mission of The Scots College," Mr Falls said. According to staff, the unprecedented move came after an internal power struggle between the headmaster, Dr Ian Lambert, whose contract was up for review this year, and former council members. The names of the school's former council members have since been removed from the school's website, while an extension of Dr Lambert's contract is "the first priority" for the new management committee. The takeover comes amid concerns among parents and staff over the direction of the school including rising school fees over the past few years.

The Scots College. Credit:Simone De Peak The school charges its 1800 students more than $30,000 a year, a figure which was set to rise by a further 2 per cent this year. It earned more than $38 million of income in 2013. "It is becoming ridiculously elitist," said a parent of a child in year 8. "You just can't afford to pay the fees, you have to be a merchant banker or a partner in a law firm," she said. The Scots College in Bellevue Hill. Credit:Dallas Kilponen Another parent described the school's lavish facilities as "slightly excessive".

The Bellevue Hill school has one of the state's only "hypoxic simulated altitude-training environments" for high school students to simulate athletic training at high altitude, worth up to $100,000. It has also previously boasted of bowling lessons from former Australian cricketer Brett Lee and access to English Premier League sports scientists. The school has also been locked in action in the NSW Land and Environment court over expansion plans amid ongoing feuds with local residents. Mr Falls denied that a reduction in school fees were part of the school's "strategic plan," which was authored by the now dismissed school council. "There was no link between the question of school fees and the the decision of the Trustees," he said. While the school has wiped old council members from the school's website, the new management committee has moved quickly to lock in Dr Lambert's services for the forseeable future.

"I would like to commend the Principal and senior staff for their professionalism and for their sincere devotion to the wellbeing of the College throughout this period of review," the school's new chair Simon Fraser wrote to parents. "Amongst the first agenda items for the Management Committee is to make arrangements with Dr Lambert for an extension to his contract of employment as Principal which would otherwise expire at the end of this year." Mr Fraser was the chair of the old school council until 2014 before being replaced by his deputy Gillian Heard, an expert in planning and compliance for educational institutions. Dr Heard and Mr Fraser have been contacted for comment.