Winchester College's top-level management is in line for a shake-up following its expulsion from one of the private sector's top "clubs".

The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, representing senior staff at top independent schools, confirmed at the weekend that Winchester had been suspended. It will stand "while various issues concerning governance and management are addressed".

The action comes less than two months after head, Dr Nick Tate, resigned for family reasons. It is a blow to the prestige of Winchester College, founded 1382, one of the oldest schools in Englandand it could make it hard to attract a new head.

Stand-in, Tommy Cookson, said this week: "The kind of things that need to be addressed are professional codes of conduct induction processes, updated appraisal systems and a review of the working of senior management."

He added that Dr Tate had introduced "the process of streamlining the administration at the school" with the backing of governorsa job he aims to finish.

But sources say Dr Tate encountered opposition from some masters to reforms he introduced. From the start, he was a controversial figure at the £18,000-a-year school. His appointment in 2000 was unusual: he was not an old boy and had not taught for 30 years. Dr Tate previously headed the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and was instrumental in doing away with A-levels in favour of AS-levels.

He supported league tableshighly controversial in the independent sector and introduced non-curriculum studies, where boys discussed philosophy and politics for an hour a day..

But, during his time at Winchester, Dr Tate struggled with the behavioural problems of his son, Oliver, now 17, who was reprimanded for smoking cannabis while studying at the school and later set fire to a car belonging to TV journalist, Martin Bashir. The teenager also spent time in a rehabilitation clinic to address alcohol problems before returning to Winchester to find a job.

A farewell party for Dr Tate and his wife, Nadya, was held two weeks ago, and a production of Love's Labours Lost gave him a mention in the programme.

Mr Cookson, a Winchester College old boy and former housemaster, will act as headmaster until next year, while the governors seek a successor. "Once we have dealt with the management issues raised by HMC, they will address the process of Winchester's readmission to the conference," he added.

Dr Tate was unavailable for comment.