Mark Blunden and Robert Mendick
11.06.09l
One of London's leading headteachers has been arrested over allegations
of a £500,000 expenses fraud linked to a Cuban exchange programme.
Paul Patrick, 53, has been suspended from the Cardinal Wiseman School in
Greenford for "possible administrative irregularities".
Police from the fraud squad arrested him at the penthouse apartment in
north London where he lives with his family. He vehemently denies any
wrongdoing.
The investigation is understood to be looking into school exchange trips
to Cuba arranged by Mr Patrick, who has been credited by Ofsted with
turning the Roman Catholic school into one of London's highest-achieving
over his 12 years in charge.
The headteacher recently returned to Britain from a sabbatical in
Havana, where he worked in a school.
An Ealing council source said: "We are being told that large sums of
money are believed to be involved, not just trivial amounts."
Another close to the school claimed: "The sum is around half a million
pounds. He is being looked at for buying smart Armani-type suits, even
people carriers, off-road vehicles and first-class flights to Cuba."
Mr Patrick is a member of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, a British group
"for the defence of Cuba and its peoples' right to self-determination
and national sovereignty".
In 2003 he wrote in the campaign's journal Cuba Si of his fact-finding
mission to Havana to set up the school exchange programme.
Rob Miller, director of the CSC, said: "This is the first I have heard
of him being suspended. He has always come across as a very good
headteacher and a very good person who wants to make successful
international links."
A Met spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that officers from the Met's
fraud squad arrested a 53-year-old man at his home address in Southgate
on suspicion of expense fraud.
He was taken to a west London police station and bailed to return
pending further inquiries to a date in June."
Parents were told about Mr Patrick's suspension by letter and pupils at
the technology and humanities college were informed at assembly.
Cardinal Wiseman School's chairwoman of governors, Maggie Pound, said:
"I can confirm that headteacher Paul Patrick has been suspended.
"An investigation is being conducted into possible administrative
irregularities.
"Suspension is a neutral act and is often undertaken where
investigations of this nature are being made. No irregularities have
been identified in connection with admission arrangements."
In its last Ofsted inspection the school was rated "outstanding".
Inspectors concluded: "The headteacher provides the pivotal focus for
the school's vision which has led to continued and sustained
improvement. The headteacher has a relentless ambition and drive to
improve the achievement of all pupils."
Mr Patrick developed educational links with Cuba in 2003 after visiting
a high school there. He set up programmes which saw the Spanish, art and
music departments enjoying links with Havana schools and institutions.
Cardinal Wiseman's prospectus says that each year music pupils travel to
the Escuela Nacional De Musica to play and in return Cuban pupils visit
the UK. There are also links to the Enrique Galarraga school in Havana.
The trips were understood to be funded through government grants and
parental contributions.
Mr Patrick's plan included allowing his staff to learn Spanish at the
university of Havana.
He urged other London schools to contact him and added: "The potential
benefits are enormous...this is a productive way to show solidarity with
the Cuban people."
In 2006, according to Companies House records, he set up Havana
Experience Limited, a tourism and travel company based in Surrey, which
has never traded.
An application was made last month to have the company voluntarily
struck off the Companies House register.
One parent said: "He's been an amazing headteacher, I wouldn't have sent
my children to the school if he hadn't come along. He has been inspiring."
Mr Patrick, who lives with his wife Denise, 53, a primary school
head-teacher, refused to comment.
Top headteacher held over £500,000 Cuba trip expenses | News (11 June 2009)
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23706339-details/Top+headteacher+held+over+500,000+Cuba+trip+expenses/article.do
No comments:
Post a Comment