Head denies holiday expense abuse

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A head teacher made "opportunistic use" of school funds for Caribbean holidays, a disciplinary panel heard.

Susan Duncan has denied making false expenses claims toward trips to Antigua and Jamaica with another teacher at The Meadows School, Oldbury, West Midlands.

She denies seven charges of professional misconduct while Margaret Simcox denies three similar charges.

The General Teaching Council panel failed to reach a decision after nearly five hours and adjourned the hearing.

It will resume either on 6 August or 21 September.

Scuba gear

The GTC committee heard allegations that Ms Duncan made numerous false expenses claims towards trips to Antigua and Jamaica while employed at the school.

The hearing in Birmingham was told she also made claims for items including scuba diving gear, computer equipment and a handbag.

It is an opportunistic use of school funds to get seven days in the Caribbean Andrew Faux

Ms Duncan and Ms Simcox, who have both left the school, took a trip to Antigua in 2004 and a trip to Jamaica in April 2006, the panel heard.

Ms Duncan argues she travelled to the two islands with Ms Simcox as "risk assessment" visits for future school trips.

The pair then went on a school trip to Jamaica in May 2006.

Acted 'selflessly'

Andrew Faux, the presenting officer to the GTC panel, said: "At the end of the day, this is a holiday.

"It is an opportunistic use of school funds to get seven days in the Caribbean."

Neither teacher was present at the hearing, but Ian Poole, representing Ms Duncan, said the former head teacher had not been on "a jolly", but instead behaved "selflessly".

Mr Poole said the GTC panel might instead find Ms Duncan went on the trips "not for any personal reason, but because she thought it was for the benefit of the school".

He said: "Ms Duncan, quite selflessly, on a private holiday, took time out to do something of benefit to the school."