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Head teacher Jo Shuter quits after 'funds misuse' probe

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22577069

Quote:

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.

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.

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".

And the school's assessment of its own financial controls was downgraded as well.

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".

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."

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.

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.

Was this Shuter woman having a mid-life crisis ..... :eek:

..that's why I'm so dubious about these Acadamy schools..there is no Governing Body to approve the budget and what it's spent on so I guess it's leaving it so open for fraud....

Sounds like this was not fraud as it was sanctioned by the school. The Teacher in question was probably pushing her luck spending this much on a birthday party but it was allowed by current school rules so good luck to her.

Perhaps the rules regarding how school finances are spent should be reviewed.

Silly mare.

'Former head teacher' she got fired, yes?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nedusa (Post 5999809)

Sounds like this was not fraud as it was sanctioned by the school. The Teacher in question was probably pushing her luck spending this much on a birthday party but it was allowed by current school rules so good luck to her.

Perhaps the rules regarding how school finances are spent should be reviewed.

..they are all controlled by a board of Governors, Nedusa....but not in Academies or 'Free Schools' ..that's why it leaves so much scope for this type of thing to happen and why I'm so dubious of them...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ammi (Post 5999814)

Wow...... Sounds like a system that is crying out to be abused, in fact it must be quite a test of character NOT to take some liberties.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc (Post 5999813)

Silly mare.

'Former head teacher' she got fired, yes?

No ..... she was a "former London head teacher of the year"

Quote:

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.

Quote:

Jo Shuter, head of Quintin Kynaston Community Academy, in St John's Wood, was suspended over financial issues in 2012 but was later reinstated.

:shocked:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apple202 (Post 5999965)

lmfao

Why?

7000 on her own birthday is hilar

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apple202 (Post 5999977)

7000 on her own birthday is hilar

Not when it's the tax-payers money ..... :nono:

I'm a tax-payer, are you?

Not so stupid she didn't know how she might fiddle her school census to gain maximum funds. Perhaps they should dig deeper?

Funds misuse school governors 'must act now'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22580623

Quote:

Governors at a school accused of inappropriate use of public money have been urged to "take action" by Westminster Council.

A Department for Education report criticised Quintin Kynaston Community Academy head teacher Jo Shuter over use of school funds.

Ms Shuter has been reinstated following a suspension, but is yet to return to the school.

The BBC understands negotiations over her future took place on Saturday.

The Department for Education has said decisions about the position of the head teacher are the responsibility of the school governing body.

The head teacher of the St John's Wood academy is yet to comment.

On Friday, BBC London revealed the report downgraded the school's self-assessment of its use of public funds from "good" to "inadequate".

The investigation, which looked at spending between January 2011 and August 2012, detailed numerous concerns, including:

Ms Shuter not declaring any business interests despite having close links to a number of suppliers used by the academy.
"Widespread" personal use of academy taxi accounts with an estimated £2,663 of personal travel costs identified.
At least two cases of expenses being claimed more than once from different organisations, which "could amount to fraud".
A number of issues relating to the employment of family members.

Examples of personal journeys for which taxis were claimed included trips to The Ivy and The Wolsey restaurants.

It seems that Shuter's been plundering school funds to fund an extravagant lifestyle, yet the governors seem reluctant to do anything about it ..... :suspect:

The governors should make her resign, she has used the school in more than one way over the years to fund her lifestyle. Jobs for family including her live in lover.
This woman has no morals whatsoever!

What a disgrace of a woman! Never mind suspended she should be sacked that is theft. Why are the Governors pussy footing around unless of course they have their hands in the till also.

She should be put on trial for the disgraceful misuse of tax payers money.

Hundreds of pounds on mobile phone bills for her children. Family members being paid for catering. Computers meant for the school taken for her children. Lets hope that the full extent of her corrupt dealings are uncovered. A very greedy, immoral thief. She should be jailed.

Every area of privatisation breeds avarice, I'm guessing this is the tip of the iceberg.

Tip of the iceberg! This woman's dirty dealing could sink the titanic. Its been going on for years.

If she cared so much about her students why did she steal the money meant for their education, considering how she likes to tell people most come from deprived backgrounds and their well being is her main concern.

Head teacher Jo Shuter quits after 'funds misuse' probe

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22760507

Quote:

Announcing her resignation, Ms Shuter, who lives in Dollis Hill, north-west London, said: "It is with sadness and regret that I have taken the difficult decision to tender my resignation as head teacher of QK Academy following the governors' decision to reinstate me after a lengthy investigation."

Mr Lees said: "Whilst we as the governing body have reinstated Jo, following the publication of the EFA report last week Jo felt her position at QK had become untenable*.

"She has today proffered her resignation, which we have accepted."

Good ..... :thumbs:

Perhaps someone will bring a private prosecution if the governors still think that the sun shines out of her **** ..... :pipe:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kizzy (Post 6005516)

Every area of privatisation breeds avarice, I'm guessing this is the tip of the iceberg.

Never that simple my love

Some people Stink to the Core

Whoever is in power.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apple202 (Post 5999977)

7000 on her own birthday is hilar

:joker:

Jumping ship. Woman overboard!