Troubled East Brighton College of Media Arts is unlikely to get a new head teacher until at least January 2001.

Interviews for the post were scrapped after five of the six shortlisted candidates pulled out. It is understood the remaining applicant was not considered suitable for the job.

Former head teacher Tony Garwood quit last month. It was revealed he and Brighton and Hove Council executive councillor for education Frieda Warman Brown, who was then the chairman of governors, had suppressed a damning letter from director of education David Hawker raising concerns about pupil behaviour, high exclusion rates and staff morale.

Mr Garwood originally planned to step down in July but announced last week he was leaving at Easter. Clive Frost, director of Brighton's Education Action Zone, has stepped in as acting head until a permanent replacement can be found.

Mr Frost said: "It was devastating for us. At this time of year there are lots of interviews going on for heads and deputy heads so it is normal to lose one or two but very unusual to lose so many. I understand the applicants pulled out for a variety of personal reasons."

The chairman of the board of governors of East Brighton College of Media Arts, Derek Bown, said between 50 and 60 people had expressed interest in the job but they had been whittled down to four key applicants and two reserves.

Mr Bown said: "I was very disappointed the interviews did not go ahead. The school needs a first-class principal, someone with the right level of experience and vision for the college, someone who can take it forward. However Mr Frost will be a full-time acting head and we are confident he can keep things moving forward."

Pat Hawkes, Brighton and Hove's lead councillor for school effectiveness, expressed sadness that no appointment had been made. She said: "I am glad we are re-advertising the post. It is always difficult to get a wide field for any appointment of this kind, but we are fairly confident we will be able to move the process forward in the early part of next term."

Linda Balameh, who has been a parent-governor at the college for two years, said: "I think the school is just going to go downhill now. It was already very hard for the school and it is going to be even more difficult now.

"The kids have had a hard ride since September. The lack of teachers was bad enough, now they don't have a head teacher it will be even worse. They were better off with Tony Garwood.

"It seems to me that since they transformed the school into a college the kids haven't settled. There have been lots of small problems which together have made it difficult. This is really sad for them."