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Head teacher Jo Shuter spent school money on own birthday party | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A former head teacher of the year spent almost £7,000 of school money on her own 50th birthday party, a report seen by BBC London has found. | A former head teacher of the year spent almost £7,000 of school money on her own 50th birthday party, a report seen by BBC London has found. |
Jo Shuter, of Quintin Kynaston, St John's Wood, was suspended over financial issues in 2012. She was later reinstated. | Jo Shuter, of Quintin Kynaston, St John's Wood, was suspended over financial issues in 2012. She was later reinstated. |
Now a Department for Education report has found the academy's spending amounted to "misuse of public money". | Now a Department for Education report has found the academy'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 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 | |
Examples of financial irregularities highlighted by the investigation included £6,957 spent on Ms Shuter's 50th birthday party, held at the academy. | Examples of financial irregularities highlighted by the investigation included £6,957 spent on Ms Shuter's 50th birthday party, 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. | |
"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. | |
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." | |
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. | |
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." | |
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 | |
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. | |
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. |