Sacked Colne primary school headteacher hits back at ‘financial irregularities’ claim

Mr Peter Cunningham accused Lancashire County Council and Sacred Heart RC Primary School of unfair dismissal and breach of contract at a week-long hearing in Manchester.

Mr Cunningham, of Skipton Old Road, was suspended from the Red Lane school in January, 2008, and sacked a year later following an investigation.

The tribunal heard evidence from auditor Sarah Oldendorp who investigated the finances at the school following concerns over VAT discrepancies.

She told the panel concerns were also raised about the mixing of monies between Sacred Heart School, an unofficial school fund and Club 2000, an organisation responsible for providing after-school care.

Mr Cunningham told the hearing the school was run “efficiently and effectively”.

He said he was unaware of any financial irregularities and an audit in 2006 and an Ofsted inspection by Ofsted had not highlighted any concerns.

Mr Cunningham maintained he did not have ultimate financial control at the school. “The governing body kept a tight rein on the school’s finances and money was carefully tracked by the school’s bursar, who kept financial records.”

This was disputed by Mrs Zoe Thompson, who spoke on behalf of Lancashire County Council and Sacred Heart School. Mrs Thompson accused Mr Cunningham of mixing monies between the school’s official budget, unofficial school fund and Club 2000.

She said: “The auditor has found huge sums of money in the budget and can’t find where these relate to.”

Mrs Thompson also accused Mr Cunningham of “tax dodging”, saying he had avoided paying VAT on building work and play equipment.

He said: “I can’t be expected to have known all of the guidance on VAT. It was an honest mistake.”

The hearing also heard from the man who chaired Mr Cunningham’s disciplinary hearing, Mr Dennis Ford.

Mr Cunningham challenged the way he had been treated during the hearing and asked why he had been dismissed without being given a final warning.

He said the move could prove career destroying as the case was now being dealt with by the General Teaching Council.

“I could be removed from the role of teacher. Thirty years in the teaching profession would be lost.”

Mr Ford said: “The weight of the evidence put in front of us was of various indiscretions, there were so many areas. Within his role as a headteacher he should have accepted responsibility.”

Mr Ford said Mr Cunningham had excluded governors and ignored advice when concerns had been raised over payments made from the unofficial school fund and VAT discrepancies.

Mr Cunningham denied any intentional wrongdoing.

He said: “In terms of these areas, what I am saying is that there was no intent from me to deceive or do anything dishonest. There should have been some consideration of the good work I had done for the past 13 years.”

The panel iss due to make its decision.