Headmaster at award winning school embroiled in cheating claims spent thousands on luxury treats

The headmaster of an award-winning school embroiled in claims of cheating spent thousands on treats for staff, including zumba classes and being entertained by fire eaters.

The Mail on Sunday last week revealed that the results of two SATs tests taken by pupils at Broadford Primary School in Romford, East London, had been annulled following an investigation by Government inspectors. Now, documents seen by this newspaper show details of ‘unconventional’ expenditure on staff events by Malcolm Drakes, the £118,000- a-year executive headteacher of Broadford and another school.

One report, setting out spending from the ‘Learning Federation’s joint school fund’ which covers both schools, shows almost £3,000 was spent on a Christmas meal for staff last year. The group enjoyed a Russian-themed party at the Barleylands venue in Essex, with entertainment including fire-eaters and belly-dancers.

Staff at the school, which was last year crowned Times Educational Supplement School of the Year, were also treated to a night out at Romford greyhound stadium costing £1,250 and zumba classes totalling £1,100.

More than £700 was spent at Flight Club, a darts-themed bar in Shoreditch, East London, over £1,000 on flowers and £893 on a ten-pin bowling event.

An audit report into spending by the schools in 2017-18 concluded: ‘There is unconventional spend on the Executive Head Teachers Charge Card.’ It added: ‘Significant purchases for staff welfare are made from the school fund.’

The report said the head had explained the spending had been for ‘staff meetings and rewards’.

Commenting on behalf of Mr Drakes and the school, a Havering Council spokesman said: ‘The governing body commissioned the report and has created an action plan in response to the findings. The statutory Local Authority audit this year will assess progress and take any appropriate steps.’