Top Catholic school Cardinal Wiseman ‘wasted thousands on trips to Cuba’

A leading faith school squandered tens of thousands of pounds on free trips to Cuba for hundreds of children and staff, a report found today.

Investigators condemned the financial management of Cardinal Wiseman Roman Catholic secondary school in Greenford.

Former headteacher Paul Patrick, who was cleared of fraud after a police investigation last year, was paid almost £180,000 in expenses for taxis, meals and other items, the report found.

Mr Patrick was widely credited with turning round the fortunes of the 1,800-pupil school during his 12 years in charge but resigned over the allegations last month.

The report from Ealing Council auditors detailed a catalogue of failings in the way the school's £9.3 million annual budget had been managed.

It found the school's exchange programme with Cuba funded trips for 100 staff, 136 students and 38 non-staff from 2005 to 2009.

But the school was reimbursed for only eight visits made by non-staff, including a model, photographers, a union official and a video director.

The school spent £121,414 on the trips between 2007 and last year, including first-class flights for the head; £742 in accommodation and travel was paid for a guest who did not even take part in the visit.

The report said financial control at the school was "weak", and "open to significant error or abuse".

Chair of governors Maggie Pound, who requested the inquiry, said: "The audit opinion gives a rating of no assurance', the lowest possible. It is hoped that by making this document public we can deal with issues with transparency."