Hackney Council refuses to release report into alleged irregularities at Best Start federated schools
Ex-superhead Greg Wallace
Unions are angry that Hackney Council is refusing to release the full results of its investigation into alleged financial irregularities at schools headed up by superhead Greg Wallace.
Mr Wallace’s reign as Executive Principal of the Best Start Federation (BSF), which runs five Hackney primaries, came to an end last year after he was suspended in July.
The Hackney Citizen and other newspapers subsequently reported that Mr Wallace had resigned while a council investigation was in progress – but it has now emerged that he was in fact served with a letter of dismissal from the Town Hall before standing down.
The Hackney Citizen understands local representatives of the National Union of Teachers, GMB union and Unison are preparing a letter demanding the results of the investigation into the alleged irregularities be released.
The unions are thought to be furious, believing the council has backtracked on pledges to make its findings public.
BSF comprises London Fields, Woodberry Down, Burbage, Mandeville and Whitmore Schools.
A Hackney Council spokesperson said: “A routine audit at a Best Start Federation school uncovered concerns about financial irregularity and the procurement of ICT contracts.
“A full independent investigation was carried out and although Mr Wallace tendered his resignation during the disciplinary process, the procedure was completed and we can confirm Mr Wallace was subsequently dismissed from his position.
“The report also made a number of recommendations to tighten financial and procurement procedures in BSF schools. The Federation’s governing body has agreed to defederate the schools and new governing bodies will be set up for each school. Those new bodies will take forward the recommendations.”
Mr Wallace had been singled out for praise by Education Secretary Michael Gove for improving the primary schools he was in charge of.
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Am not surprised one bit. Would be interesting to read, though.
It is ironic that the education department of Hackney Council has found irregularities in the BSF’s recruitment practices considering what goes on there.
I made several Freedom of Information requests about their recruitment practices and found them reluctant to reveal certain information and they were also tardy giving me the information.
The information requests can be viewed by googling:
What do they know learning trust frank franks
The facts of these requests can be summarised as:
The top 5 earning members of staff at HLT have had between (and including) 1 and 5 relatives working there. They are:
Tricia Okurawa, Chief Executive – 2 sons .
Alan Wood, former Chief Executive – son and daughter .
Steve Belk, former Chief Executive – wife.
Instead of dismissing people there have been 80 compromise agreements (gagging orders) since 2006! This will of course involve big payments.
Instead of employing proper staff – HLT employ approximately 1500 temporary staff per year.
HLT HR have employed a TEMPORARY member of staff for over 3 years – that person ‘earns’ more than £350 a day.
A TEMPORARY staff member has worked at the Trust for 4 years!!! – This goes against their own recruitment of temporary staff policy.
The IT department have had 10 apprentices working for them (20% of the total apprentices that the Learning Trust has ever recruited) – rather than employing proper staff on proper wages they just get people on a below minimum wage to do their work for them.
Since October 2011 when the law changed allowing temporary staff to apply for internal positions 6 temps have changed to permanent roles! This is a loophole in the law that allows HLT to recruit who they want as a temp (it could even be a friend) and then advertise that position internally knowing full well that there wont be any other sufficiently experienced internal candidates. They do all their recruiting through a company called Carlisle Managed Solutions.
Shocking stuff!
What this shows is why so many people have a lack of trust in Hackney Learning Trust.
I am deeply saddened on reading Mr. Wallace was indeed forced to resign. Their findings were indeed true.
Sue – he was dismissed, he wasn’t forced to resign.