Public Accounts Committee criticises free school finances

The Public Accounts Committee published its report into the establishment of free schools saying: 'The Agency (EFA) relies on high levels of compliance by schools, yet fewer than half of free schools submitted their required financial returns for 2011-12 to the Agency on time.

'Whistleblowers played a major role in uncovering recent scandals when problems should have been identified through the Agency’s monitoring processes.

'The Department and the Agency must improve their arrangements for audit and accountability of free schools so that we can follow the taxpayer’s pound and satisfy ourselves that public money is being used appropriately.

'We are also concerned that applications for new free schools are not emerging from areas of greatest forecast need for more and better school places.'

The Independent

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