“Haphazard” Records Found at School with £82,000 Financial Deficit

A school’s financial records were described as “haphazard” after an audit revealed an £82,000 deficit. Broughton Moor Primary School, located near Maryport in Cumbria, had been assessed as “requiring improvement” by Ofsted following an inspection conducted a year prior. Cumberland Council subsequently dissolved the school’s governing body and established an Interim Executive Board (IEB). This IEB then conducted an audit in response to concerns regarding the management of the school’s finances. The school stated that its IEB was collaborating closely with the council to put into effect the recommendations provided by the auditors. The final audit report, scheduled for discussion by the Labour-led council on Tuesday, contained 13 “high-graded” recommendations, indicating that the school is required to implement these changes. According to the report, the school’s deficit “significantly worsened” during the 2023-24 period, escalating from £2,000 to £82,000, and it emphasized the necessity for “urgent action.” It also noted that the substantial expenditure on supply staff, necessitated by “significant” staff absence, had considerably impacted the finances. Both the IEB and the auditors reported difficulties in gathering the required documentation for the audit, concluding that record keeping “was found to be haphazard.” Furthermore, the report indicated an absence of evidence showing that appropriate permissions were sought for payment approvals. As an illustration, £3,000 in funding received in 2022 was used for storage equipment, yet “no evidence” existed to confirm its approval by the chair of governors. A report also highlighted that school bank card details were discovered to be stored on personal accounts on websites used for purchases, a practice that could potentially result in transactions made “erroneously or maliciously.” A spokesperson for the school confirmed that it is presently overseen by an experienced IEB and an acting headteacher, pending the appointment of a new board of governors, and that the council maintains its support. During the Ofsted inspection, the school had an enrollment of 70 children. While its quality of education, management, and overall rating were assessed as “requiring improvement,” its behaviour, personal development, and early years provision received a “good” rating. For further updates, BBC Cumbria can be followed on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.