Head arrested in Bradford free school fraud inquiry

The founder and principal of one of the Government's flagship free schools has been arrested by police investigating an alleged fraud.

West Yorkshire Police confirmed a 41-year-old man has been arrested in connection with their investigation into the Kings Science Academy in Bradford, which was visited by the Prime Minister in 2012.

The force has not named the arrested man but he is understood to be Sajid Raza, who set up the school in 2011.

Read: Government 'acted as soon as it received allegations'

He has been questioned in relation to suspected fraud offences at the free school and has now been released on bail, pending further enquiries.

Police are looking into the mismanagement of more than £86,000 of public money at the academy.

The Department for Education has defended its free schools initiative following the arrest of a man in connection with alleged fraud at Kings Science Academy in Bradford, one of its flagship free schools.

A spokesman said the "vast majority" of free schools are performing well and "all free schools are held to rigorous account", adding that the department acted as soon as it received allegations of wrongdoing at the academy.

Read: School had 'serious failings' in financial management

Kings Science Academy, where a man was arrested today in connection with alleged fraud at the free school, was last year found to have claimed tens of thousands of pounds in public money which was not used for its intended purposes amid claims of financial irregularities.

The flagship free school in Bradford, which was visited by David Cameron in 2012, was found by an Education Funding Agency (EFA) investigation to have "serious failings" in its financial management.

The academy was one of the first free schools to open in September 2011. It was set up by its current principal Sajid Raza and was praised by the prime minister on his visit.

Read: Free School acknowledges 'poor governance'

A 41-year-old man has been released on bail pending further enquiries after being arrested at Kings Science Academy in Bradford by police investigating allegations of fraud at the free school.

The founder and principal of a flagship free school in Bradford has been arrested by police investigating an alleged fraud.

West Yorkshire Police confirmed a 41-year-old man has been arrested in connection with their investigation into the Kings Science Academy in Bradford, which was visited by the Prime Minister in 2012.

The force has not named the arrested man but he is understood to be Sajid Raza, who set up the school in 2011. **He's been questioned in relation to suspected fraud offences at the free school and has now been released on bail, pending further enquiries.

Police are looking into the mismanagement of more than £86,000 of public money there.