Call for swift 'phantom pupils' inquiry

The District Auditor found the extra pupils did not exist

A senior councillor has called for a quick conclusion to a row over 'phantom pupils' at a south Wales school, where the headteacher and her deputy have been suspended.

Pupils and staff at Tref-y-Rhyg Primary School, Tonyrefail, should be given prime consideration, said Coun Russell Roberts, the former Labour leader of Rhondda Cynon Taff council and member for Tonyrefail.

Investigations at Tref-y-rhyg revealed teachers were claiming up to £50,000 for around 20 pupils who who were not at the school and money for an additional teacher.

The school and pupils are concerned so we want to reach a conclusion quickly

Russell Roberts, RCT councilor

Head Colleen Jones and deputy Glenda Hasty were sent home after auditors from the District Audit Service discovered money had been paid for pupils who should no longer have been on the register at the school, near Pontypridd.

The local authority pays schools £2,000 per pupil.

Coun Roberts said: "The investigation is to take place as quickly as possible to get the school back to normal for pupils and teachers.

'Anomalies'

"The school and pupils are concerned so we want to reach a conclusion quickly. It should last a matter of days rather than weeks.

"Investigations are examining anomalies of around 20 extra pupils on the register which could have brought the school extra funds of tens of thousands of pounds, up to around £50,000," he said.

RCT council confirmed an investigation was under way but refused to disclose its nature.

A temporary management team of two experienced headteachers is in place and the school is operating as normal

Dewi Jones, RCT spokesman

Mrs Jones, who lives at Pentre in the Rhondda, has been the school's head for three years and is said to be popular among parents.

One theory being looked in to by the local education authority at Rhondda Cynon Taff is that children who left the school and moved out of the area were kept on the school books.

Council spokesman Dewi Jones said: "The head and deputy head are not at the school at present. A temporary management team of two experienced headteachers is in place and the school is operating as normal."

The pair denied the allegations through their union, the National Association of Head Teachers, and said they looked forward to returning to work soon.

Question over figures

The school's chair of governors, Eudine Hanagan, who authorised the women's suspension, questioned how the investigation could have put a number of the alleged "phantom pupils" before an inquiry was completed.

She said Tref-y-rhyg was a "bright and vigorous" school where pupils were working hard to achieve good results.

Investigations showed 20 pupils did not exist

Gethin Lewis, Secretary of the National Union of Teachers in Wales, said it was said the union was co-operating with investigators.

"To suspend a headteacher and a deputy over a matter such as this is a serious thing and if the allegations are proven it is a very serious offence," he said.

"But nobody should jump to any conclusions until the investigation is completed.

"The NUT is co-operating in the investigation into management issues at the school. It is important now that the children's education should continue and that staff continue to have the support of the NUT and the local authority."

Last November, the head from Ynysmaerdy Primary School in Briton Ferry resigned on grounds of ill health after it emerged the school had claimed a £176,000 surplus for 30 non-existent pupils on the register.