An investigation into a school's financial practices found no fraudulent or criminal activity, but did identify "significant weaknesses" in financial administration.

Last week the Harrow Times reported Harrow Borough Council had carried out an investigation into Whitchurch Junior School, in Wemborough Road, Stanmore.

The audit report found “significant weaknesses” in governance and financial administration at the school.

A council spokesman said: "On receipt of whistleblowing concerns, Harrow Council carried out an internal audit investigation at Whitchurch Junior School.

"The audit did not find that any fraudulent or criminal activity had occurred at the school. The standard of teaching and learning and safeguarding at the school was not in question.”

As a result of the investigation, staff will be undergoing refresher training.

The council made 27 recommendations to put governance procedures in place, which are being implemented by the governing body.

Headteacher Tara Gratton admitted she had made mistakes.

She said: "The council’s audit highlighted a number of errors in the school’s administrative and procurement processes, and I take responsibility for these mistakes.

"For example, local government rules require schools to get several competitive quotes when ordering services above a certain cost.

“On two occasions I did not get enough quotes, for instance, when buying software for the school.

“I did not follow local authority policy to the letter over recruiting one member of staff. On another occasion, the school paid for an outstanding member of staff to return to the UK, after the role had been advertised in the UK without success.

"As headteacher, I recognise that in my efforts to gain the best possible resources for the school, I should have been more careful about the regulations.

“We are correcting our policies and governors and staff, including myself, are undergoing refresher training so we can be clear on the rules in future.”

Chairman of governors Mahmood Jagani says the governing body will now review internal procurement protocols to ensure financial procedures "remain robust”.

The council said last week it would release the full report of the investigation, but since then the authority says the report cannot be published for legal reasons.

The Harrow Times has submitted a Freedom of Information request to the council for the investigation report and is awaiting a response.