Questions mount for Gove over case of free school in fraud claims

passed the case and is investigating. Three men have been interviewed under caution.

Mr Brennan had previously asked for a recording of the call the DfE made to Action Fraud in April when it first reported the matter but Education Minister Edward Timpson said the DfE does not possess a recording.

Now Mr Brennan has asked the Home Secretary to publish all telephone conversations between Action Fraud and the DfE relating to Kings Science Academy.

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The Government has said the DfE reported the matter to Action Fraud in April and was told police were taking no further action when it contacted the fraud unit asking for an update in September.

The Home Office has previously said on behalf of Action Fraud that an administrative error led to the case “being categorised as an information report, rather than a crime report”. It also said Action Fraud had apologised to the DfE and was reviewing its processes.

Mr Brennan has called on the Home Secretary to publish the findings of this review. A Home Office spokesman said Mr Brennan’s written questions would be answered “in due course” by a Minister but declined to comment further.

Mr Brennan has also asked Mr Gove what disciplinary sanctions he has considered using in relation to the leadership of the Kings Science Academy following the DfE investigation.

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A DfE spokeswoman said it had issued a warning notice to the school in May which required them to take action to address failings in their financial management. The notice, published last week, warns additional governors may be appointed to the school. The DfE spokeswoman also insisted it had “followed all correct procedures in reporting this incident”.