![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wells-park-school-400k-of-contracts-went-to-business-associates/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/127315812_885f0f92-3a65-4fb5-8ac2-140416986b76.jpg&description=Image source, SubmittedImage caption, Carol Mitchell, seen here on the left, did not provide a statement or answers to questionsNearly £400,000 of work commissioned by a school went to business associates and family of senior leaders, an investigation found.Essex County Council investigated Wells Park boarding school, for primary-age children with behavioural issues, following whistleblower allegations.It found payments for unnecessary work and a lack of competitive tendering.The trust that has since taken over the school, in Chigwell, said robust financial systems were now in place.The state-funded school provides weekday residential education for about 40 pupils, aged five to 11, who have social, emotional and mental health difficulties, and it also has about 15 non-residential pupils.The council's audit team began an investigation in October 2020.An internal report the following April, made public after a Freedom of Information Act request, highlighted transactions with four companies.It concluded the way services were procured was not transparent, there was a failure to demonstrate value for money, and there was no evidence of tendering.The school's contract register was declared "not fit for purpose" and that the "governing body and leadership team have interests in some of the companies procured to provide services".Image caption, Wells Park is a residential school for pupils with social, emotional and mental health difficultiesA company called Kaizen Now Ltd, owned by the brother of the school's director of strategy Carol Mitchell, was paid more than £27,000 to provide general data protection regulation (GDPR) work.The school was already receiving the same services from the council at a fraction of the cost.The auditors said they could not find any details of the services the company provided.John Burke, who owns the company, did not reply when approached for comment. Carol Mitchell did not provide a formal response when asked by the BBC.Two other companies,){kind=link}
Nearly £400,000 of work commissioned by a school went to business associates and family of senior leaders, an investigation found.
Essex County Council investigated Wells Park boarding school, for primary-age children with behavioural issues, following whistleblower allegations.
It found payments for unnecessary work and a lack of competitive tendering.
The trust that has since taken over the school, in Chigwell, said robust financial systems were now in place.
The state-funded school provides weekday residential education for about 40 pupils, aged five to 11, who have social, emotional and mental health difficulties, and it also has about 15 non-residential pupils.