School cash spent on day at races

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An inquiry has started after a group of teachers from Cheltenham used public money for a day out at the Gold Cup.

Staff from Sandford special school were given a ticket to the races as part of a training day.

The school said the day had been used for team-building purposes as well as a morale-boosting exercise for staff who had had a difficult year.

Gloucestershire County Council said taxpayers' money should not have been spent on a day out.

About £1,600 from the education training budget was spent hiring a room at the racecourse for training and breakfast in the morning.

Staff were then able to enjoy the races in the afternoon.

Councillor Jackie Hall, from Gloucestershire County Council, said: "They receive their budget from government funding and we expect schools to be responsible for those budgets.

"On the face of it, it would appear it was a gross waste of taxpayers' money and as such I have ordered an internal enquiry into spending at that particular school."

A statement from the acting head teacher Helen Bartleman said: "The purpose of the day was curriculum planning, team building and also the need to reward staff for their hard work in bringing the school out of special measures."