Money probe at top head's school

Dame Jean Else has turned around the school

The school run by one of the most successful head teachers of recent years is under financial investigation.

The Audit Commission is reviewing Whalley Range High School, in Manchester.

Its head teacher, Jean Else, was made a dame in the 2001 New Year Honours, six years after taking over then transforming the girls' comprehensive.

"I can confirm that some concerns have been raised ... with the district auditors but we are not able to discuss the details at this time," she said.

Tribunals

School inspectors call it "a very good school with many strengths and few weaknesses ... exceptionally well led and very efficiently managed and administered".

It is reported that there have been a number of industrial tribunal cases brought against the school in the past year, which have been settled without going to hearings.

Dame Jean said: "These are the first industrial tribunals in my 10 years at the school.

"We have a superb, hard-working and happy staff, which is exemplified by the school's continuing success.

"We expect to come successfully out of the review."

Budget shortfall

The former education secretary, Estelle Morris, was a pupil at the school in the 1960s and had remained a friend and supporter.

Under Dame Jean's stewardship GCSE results have risen from 16% of pupils getting five good grades to more than 50% - above the national average.

Pupil numbers have risen from 766 to more than 1,600.

This April, Dame Jean said on television that she was having to cope with a £600,000 shortfall in her budget.

She said that "sadly" she would have to resign if the money could not be found.

"I am faced with having to lose some of my incredibly valuable staff and cut aspects of the curriculum and I really feel it will defeat the object and I am not prepared to do that."