{"id":241358,"date":"2026-02-10T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/?p=241358"},"modified":"2026-02-09T11:09:05","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T11:09:05","slug":"star-academy-trust-fell-victim-to-historic-fraud-over-several-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/star-academy-trust-fell-victim-to-historic-fraud-over-several-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Star academy trust fell victim to \u2018historic fraud\u2019 over several years"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the biggest academy trusts fell foul of a \u201chistoric fraud\u201d over a number of years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Star Academies, which runs 36 schools, uncovered the \u201csignificant financial irregularity\u201d last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the trust stressed it \u201cacted swiftly and appropriately, commissioning an independent investigation, reporting the matter to the relevant authorities\u201d. It said the full amount had been recovered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Star spokesperson said: \u201cWe can confirm that a historic fraud was identified and fully investigated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cInternal controls have been strengthened. There is no ongoing risk to public funds.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘All reasonable steps taken’<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The trust\u2019s accounts for 2024-25 show the \u201csignificant financial irregularity\u201d was identified during the financial year, but it had taken place \u201cover a number of years\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The trust continues to operate in accordance with the principles of regularity, propriety and compliance, and has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the issue has been fully addressed,” accounts added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The academy trust handbook<\/a> states trustees must inform the Department for Education (DfE) \u201cas soon as possible of all instances of fraud, theft or irregularity exceeding \u00a35,000 individually, or \u00a35,000 cumulatively in any financial year\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fraud deemed \u201cunusual or systematic\u201d must also be reported, \u201cregardless of value\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

43 fraud reports<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The handbook also says the DfE can investigate \u201cactual or potential fraud, theft or irregularity in any academy trust\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Schools Week<\/a> revealed the Wembley Multi-Academy Trust lost almost \u00a3400,000 through a cyber-scam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Micon Metcalfe, a school business expert, said the case was a \u201cwarning and reminder\u201d of the risk posed by fraudsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnybody can be susceptible to this type of fraud. The only way to avoid it\u2026 [is] to be very vigilant around your controls for changing bank account details.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The department\u2019s academies sector annual accounts show 43 fraud allegations were reported by trusts for 2022-23, the latest year available, down from 55 a year earlier. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MAT with 36 schools says ‘all reasonable steps taken’ following ‘significant financial irregularity’<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":311204,"featured_media":172737,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[32,28,239],"post-theme":[2381],"class_list":["post-241358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-academies","tag-dfe","tag-education-policy","post-theme-academies"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t