Clyst Vale Community College scammed out of £300,000 By Jenny Kumah

BBC Devon political reporter Published duration 13 May 2015

image copyright Google image caption The principal of Clyst Vale said its finances had been well managed for many years

A secondary school in Devon has lost £300,000 of public money after falling victim to a scam, it has emerged.

Clyst Vale Community College said it was duped by someone pretending to be a contractor changing bank details.

The case has been referred to specialist fraud investigation team at the City of London Police.

The academy's principal said it had enough in reserves to absorb the loss and the Education Funding Agency is satisfied with its response.

The incident happened last year. Details have been published in the school's annual report for 2014.

Devon and Cornwall Police said they had referred the matter to the UK's national reporting centre for fraud called Action Fraud which collates information on cases for possible investigation.

'Accounts frozen'

Andy Wolley, the south west regional organiser of the National Union of Teachers said the episode was concerning.

"That money of course is gone from the public sector, gone from children's education, and that's taxpayers' money that has disappeared" he said.

Dr Kevin Bawn, principal of Clyst Vale Community College, said in a statement the school had been "victim of a sophisticated financial theft by external person or persons unknown, towards the completion of a construction project to build a new classroom block".

Dr Bawn said some of the stolen money had been identified and accounts frozen but has yet to be returned. He also said the school is trying to get more of the money by "exploring other legal routes".

He added that "no-one at the college is implicated" and the incident was reported at the time to police, auditors and the Education Funding Agency.