Headteacher guilty of misconduct
A former headteacher from Walsall has been found guilty of three counts of professional misconduct after spending thousands of pounds of school money on a private holiday to the Caribbean.
Susan Duncan was accused of making numerous false expenses claims towards trips to Antigua and Jamaica while at The Meadows School in Oldbury.
Ms Duncan, from Fairburn Crescent, Pelsall, known as Angela, spent more than £3,000 for herself and fellow teacher Rita Simcox to go to Jamaica in 2006.
Another allegation found proven was that she claimed £306 to swim with dolphins on a separate trip to Antigua.
Panel chairman Mr Ralph Ullmann said: "As a head she had a duty to the students to show integrity. We find that she failed to do so."
A third allegation that she allowed four of Ms Simcox's family members who were not members of staff or pupils at the school to attend the school trip to Jamaica was also found proven, but it was not found to be professional misconduct.
Another charge that she had not informed governors that the four family members were attending was also proven, though an allegation that they should have had criminal checks was deemed unneccesary.
Allegations she secured reductions in costs for the trip and made a series of false claims for expenses were not proven.
The case against Rita Simcox, also known as Margaret, that she had allowed her family to attend the trip was found unproven.
Mr Ullmann added that the retrospective claim to swim with dolphins was "opportunist and dishonest."
Ms Duncan was due to learn her fate this afternoon.
