This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22577069
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Head teacher spent £7,000 of school money on birthday party | |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| A former London head teacher of the year spent almost £7,000 of school money on her 50th birthday party, a report has found. | A former London head teacher of the year spent almost £7,000 of school money on her 50th birthday party, a report has found. |
| Jo Shuter, head of Quintin Kynaston Community Academy, in St John's Wood, was suspended over financial issues in 2012 but was later reinstated. | Jo Shuter, head of Quintin Kynaston Community Academy, in St John's Wood, was suspended over financial issues in 2012 but was later reinstated. |
| A Department for Education report has found the school's spending amounted to "misuse of public money". | A Department for Education report has found the school's spending amounted to "misuse of public money". |
| Ms Shuter could not be contacted for comment. | Ms Shuter could not be contacted for comment. |
| The report, which looked at spending between January 2011 and August 2012, downgraded the school's self-assessment of its own financial performance from "good" to "inadequate". | The report, which looked at spending between January 2011 and August 2012, downgraded the school's self-assessment of its own financial performance from "good" to "inadequate". |
| The academy's performance, when it came to proper and regular use of public funds, was also judged "inadequate" instead of "good". | The academy's performance, when it came to proper and regular use of public funds, was also judged "inadequate" instead of "good". |
| And the school's assessment of its own financial controls was downgraded as well. | And the school's assessment of its own financial controls was downgraded as well. |
| 'Landscaping' costs | 'Landscaping' costs |
| Examples of financial irregularities highlighted by the investigation included £6,957 spent on Ms Shuter's 50th birthday party, which was held at the academy. | Examples of financial irregularities highlighted by the investigation included £6,957 spent on Ms Shuter's 50th birthday party, which was held at the academy. |
| That included costs for staff time, catering, alcohol, food, party lights and "landscaping". | That included costs for staff time, catering, alcohol, food, party lights and "landscaping". |
| There was a cash advance to Ms Shuter of £1,000 for musicians and other expenses on the night. | There was a cash advance to Ms Shuter of £1,000 for musicians and other expenses on the night. |
| The report said: "The practice in the academy is to purchase flowers and birthday cakes for [senior staff members'] birthdays. | The report said: "The practice in the academy is to purchase flowers and birthday cakes for [senior staff members'] birthdays. |
| "We identified that since becoming an academy £3,474 has been spent on flowers." | "We identified that since becoming an academy £3,474 has been spent on flowers." |
| A £300 Selfridges gift voucher was purchased using the academy credit card when one staff member left in April 2012, although £220 of that sum was then contributed by senior staff. | A £300 Selfridges gift voucher was purchased using the academy credit card when one staff member left in April 2012, although £220 of that sum was then contributed by senior staff. |
| The report also detailed how senior staff members held off-site meetings at exclusive hotels. | The report also detailed how senior staff members held off-site meetings at exclusive hotels. |
| An overnight meeting held in January 2012 at the Grove Hotel, in Chandlers Cross, cost £8,269. | An overnight meeting held in January 2012 at the Grove Hotel, in Chandlers Cross, cost £8,269. |
| Meanwhile, another meeting at the Landmark Hotel - where the cost of rooms was up to £323 a night - set the school's finances back £4,410. | |
| The report authors said: "All the costs for these stays are paid for by the academy and the cost of these meetings has to be questioned on value-for-money grounds." | The report authors said: "All the costs for these stays are paid for by the academy and the cost of these meetings has to be questioned on value-for-money grounds." |
| In another incident which caused the report authors concern, the academy bought chairs to the value of £1,579, which were delivered to Ms Shuter's home. | In another incident which caused the report authors concern, the academy bought chairs to the value of £1,579, which were delivered to Ms Shuter's home. |
| She then brought different chairs into the academy she had previously purchased - which she claimed were more expensive. | She then brought different chairs into the academy she had previously purchased - which she claimed were more expensive. |
| However, evidence to support this claim was apparently not provided by Ms Shuter. | However, evidence to support this claim was apparently not provided by Ms Shuter. |
| By way of general advice, the report told school governors: "The governing body should consider the need to address the risk to the academy of the Bribery Act 2010." | By way of general advice, the report told school governors: "The governing body should consider the need to address the risk to the academy of the Bribery Act 2010." |
| Responding to the probe, a DfE spokeswoman said: "The misuse of public money meant for schools is completely unacceptable. | Responding to the probe, a DfE spokeswoman said: "The misuse of public money meant for schools is completely unacceptable. |
| "The Education Funding Agency has issued a Financial Notice to Improve to Quintin Kynaston. | "The Education Funding Agency has issued a Financial Notice to Improve to Quintin Kynaston. |
| "We will not lift that notice until the school has made sufficient progress to address the identified weaknesses." | "We will not lift that notice until the school has made sufficient progress to address the identified weaknesses." |
| She added: "We are monitoring the situation closely and will take any further action necessary." | She added: "We are monitoring the situation closely and will take any further action necessary." |
| 'Outstanding' school | 'Outstanding' school |
| The DfE has agreed with Quintin Kynaston that all irregular payments made since the school became an academy should be repaid to the Education Funding Agency. | The DfE has agreed with Quintin Kynaston that all irregular payments made since the school became an academy should be repaid to the Education Funding Agency. |
| Ms Shuter, who has been at the academy since 2002, was named head teacher of the year at the 2007 Teaching Awards and appointed CBE in June 2010. | Ms Shuter, who has been at the academy since 2002, was named head teacher of the year at the 2007 Teaching Awards and appointed CBE in June 2010. |
| Under her, the school has been rated "outstanding" by Ofsted. | Under her, the school has been rated "outstanding" by Ofsted. |
| Patrick Lees, chairman of the board of governors, told the BBC he had seen the report but could not discuss its details at this time. | Patrick Lees, chairman of the board of governors, told the BBC he had seen the report but could not discuss its details at this time. |
| A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "On 12 September police were made aware of possible financial irregularities. | A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "On 12 September police were made aware of possible financial irregularities. |
| "An allegation of fraud/false accounting has been made to police. | "An allegation of fraud/false accounting has been made to police. |
| "The allegation continues to be investigated. There has been no arrest." | "The allegation continues to be investigated. There has been no arrest." |