Harrow Borough Council has pledged to publish a report into an investigation about possible malpractice at a primary school.

An investigation into allegations about financial practices at Whitchurch Junior School, in Wemborough Road, was carried out earlier this year.

The authority has now promised it will reveal the findings by Friday, November 21.

Earlier this year, headteacher Anne Winstrom was suspended from the first school, on the same site, and a second investigation was launched into the school’s management and financial practices.

Tara Gratton, who has been headteacher at the junior school for 11 years, was appointed interim headteacher at the first school earlier this year. 

A statement from Harrow Council said: “The authority always takes any allegations regarding our schools very seriously, and we look into them as a matter of course. We are aware of a number of issues raised at Whitchurch Junior School, and they have been thoroughly considered by the council and the school’s governing body staffing committee.

“An audit report by the council regarding Whitchurch Junior School makes a number of recommendations which the governing body of the school are putting into action. We are in close contact with the school over that process.”

The school, which received an ‘outstanding’ rating in its last Ofsted report, is currently consulting on plans to merge the first school with the junior school.

Mahmood Jagani, chairman of governors at Whitchurch Junior School, said: “We believe that our teaching staff are among the best in the country, and we have complete confidence in their abilities.

“Tara Gratton and her staff are the core reason why Whitchurch Junior School holds an outstanding rating from Ofsted.

“We have recently assisted the council with its audit report, and concluded our own investigation into the issues raised within it.

“As a result, we are satisfied with the action the governing body has taken. We are reviewing our internal procurement protocols and our direct communication lines with a view to ensuring that our financial procedures remain robust.”