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A LEADING London headteacher and three of his senior staff face the sack over an alleged £1.6 million bonus scandal.
Sir Alan Davies, headteacher of Copland Community College in Wembley, has been suspended since May over claims he oversaw a culture of nepotism and took more than £600,000 in "unlawful and irrational" payments as classrooms crumbled at the 1,900-pupil school. At least nine other senior staff and Sir Alan's caretaker son are thought to have received payments.
After a four-month inquiry, Brent council auditors said today they found evidence of "gross financial mismanagement". The school's interim board will begin disciplinary action against Sir Alan, his deputy Dr Richard Evans, bursar Columbus Udokoro and HR manager Michelle Bishop. The report's details will be kept secret because they include data protected information.
Its initial findings, leaked to the Standard in May, suggested Sir Alan received unlawful bonuses and other payments of £631,500 on top of his £103,000 salary. Extra payments to staff totalled £1,565,700.
Reader views (2)
Yet another example of money which should have been spent directly on the children being directed elsewhere.
How much money given and raised under the banner of child protection is in fact getting to the front-line of this cause?
Time for a NATIONAL audit of all the money which is the childrens' !
- Darnthesafetynet, London W11 1NR
As usual brent and its auditors are not following protocal! People are entitled to an investigation before having any form of disciplinary action taken against them and should also be notified firstly before announcing to the school with its leeches, the press and the stirrers! All makes for a good case against brent, who might I add, audited Copland every year!
- Susanna Barral, hertfordshire
