Oakbank School's former finance manager has admitted that she reported the school to the authorities.

Elizabeth Mitchell resigned from her post about two weeks ago amid the mysterious circumstances surrounding the Government's decision to retract Oakbank's prestigious sports-college status.

Now Mrs Mitchell has told of the reasons behind her decision to call in the authorities. She claims she discovered 'serious financial irregularities' in the course of her duties at the school.

She also claims she alerted senior staff at the school, in Oakworth Road, Keighley, but when they failed to take action she was left with no choice but to make her allegations to the authorities.

Oakbank head-teacher John Roberts has strongly denied the school has acted in an underhand way. He is leading the fight to reverse the decision of schools Minister Estelle Morris to strip it of the status. The decision will mean the loss of almost £1 million in extra funding over three years, with massive implications for the school's wide-ranging sports facilities and curriculum. A second police probe is being held into allegations concerning an £800,000 project to build new classrooms and a science laboratory.

Mrs Mitchell, who lives in Keighley, says: "Having discovered what I thought to be serious financial irregularities, I brought these to the attention of school management and felt the matter should be referred to the appropriate government agency. When the matter was not referred, I had no alternative but to make the disclosure myself. Having done so, the stress I have been subjected to at the school has made my position untenable."

Mrs Mitchell arrived at Oakbank six years ago to work as a part-time finance clerk. Within weeks she was promoted to the top position of finance manager.

Before her appointment she worked for Bradford council training teachers and governors on how to cope with their own budgets under the Local management of Schools scheme.

She handed in her resignation with immediate effect on July 30.

Mr Roberts responds: "I am confident that we were totally right and honest in what we did at the time. We have compiled a lot of documents to back up that view and that is being looked at again."

The school is awaiting feedback from the Department for Education after a recent top-level meeting at the school. The school governors are meeting again on September 7 and have asked officials to attend and give an update.

Mr Roberts says he is unable to comment on his former finance manager's statement in the light of the police investigation. "I cannot comment," he says. "It is supposed to be a confidential matter. If she breaks it, that is her choice. But I cannot."

It is understood the allegations concern claims of irregularities in sponsorship money which had to be raised in order for the school to earn the status as a sports college. West Yorkshire Police say their investigations are continuing

The DfEE says it is awaiting the police report before taking any further action.

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