'Reveal details of head pay inquiry'

EXETER MP Ben Bradshaw has called for the findings of an investigation into how the budget at the city's largest school was spent to be made public.

Following the Echo's revelation that the executive headteacher of West Exe Technology College, Steve Maddern was earning around £14,000 more than the Prime Minister, two auditors from Devon County Council's in-house audit team were tasked with examining how the school's budget had been spent.

The process began on Tuesday, March 13, and concluded this month.

The Local Education Authority has confirmed that the auditors are now compiling their report.

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As previously reported, Mr Maddern earned £156,000, which was £60,000 more than the next highest paid headteacher in the city, double that of two other city headteachers and well above the recommended £106,000 figure for a head outside London.

As a result of the auditors' findings the school's board of governors suspended Mr Maddern on Friday, April 27, and his resignation came just over a week later. The authority has not been able to give any details about the reasons for his resignation because the investigation has not concluded.

It is understood the process of Mr Maddern's suspension involved auditors reporting back to Devon County Council's chief executive, Phil Norrey, and head of education, Sue Clarke, who entered into discussions with the board of governors before it made the decision to suspend Mr Maddern.

It is also understood that the auditors' final report will be presented to Ms Clarke and Mr Norrey before a decision is taken on whether any action should be taken as a result of the findings.

Mr Bradshaw, said: "I'd like to thank the auditors for their full and thorough work.

"Given the high level of public concern about what went on at the school and the public money involved it is important that the investigation's findings are made public, not least so that lessons can be learned for the future."

West Exe had applied to become an academy, but the process has currently been halted.

The Government has overseen a rapid expansion of state-funded schools opting out of local authority control.

Academies have greater freedoms, including the ability to set their own pay and flexibility around curriculum delivery.

But opponents argue it will lead to the break-up of the state education system and local accountability will be lost.

The senior deputy headteacher of the school, Mr Maddern's wife Beverley Maddern, also resigned three days after her husband's resignation for health reasons. As previously reported, Mrs Maddern earned £86,000 – more than St James' headteacher Moira Marder, who earns £70,000, and St Luke's headteacher Mark Pinchin, who earns £75,000.