An academy trust broke funding rules after paying for its head to go on Botox and aromatherapy training courses, documents detailing the findings of a government investigation state. The government probe into trust in Birmingham also found 鈥渆xcessive spending鈥 on gifts 鈥 such as a Harrods hamper 鈥 and 鈥渓uxury hotel stays鈥. Staff were also given 鈥渁romatherapy treatments鈥. Recent annual accounts for the single-academy trust also show that a 拢120,000 consultancy contract had an 鈥渋ndemnity鈥 linked to it that protected the 鈥渞ecipient against costs鈥 incurred in connection with 鈥渁ny potential proceedings鈥 over the deal. Auditors say this also broke funding rules. The trust has been issued with a government notice to improve on 鈥渇inancial management and governance grounds鈥, seen by Schools Week and due to be published today. The school informed staff of the notice this morning. The notice to improve said the trust鈥檚 former headteacher and accounting officer, Loretta Barratt, had 鈥渇ailed to uphold their personal responsibility to parliament by not ensuring high standards of probity in managing public fund鈥. It added: 鈥淚rregular spending was identified, including expenditure on luxury hotel stays, a Botox course, aromatherapy courses and a plastering course, none of which align with the 7 Principles of Public Life (Nolan Principles).鈥 Barratt did not respond to requests for comment. Botox courses鈥 for training The notice to improve 鈥 issued in November 鈥 said government officials launched 鈥渁n investigation into potential irregularity鈥 at Dorrington over financial 鈥渘on-compliance鈥. The investigation ruled the payments were 鈥渘ovel, contentious and repercussive鈥. But the 鈥渢rust failed to refer these transactions鈥 to the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), as required. It also 鈥渃ontinued to offer aromatherapy treatments to staff鈥, even though auditors highlighted in 2021 鈥渢hat the provision of cosmetic procedures was irregular鈥. Schools Week understands Dorrington paid for Barratt to attend aromatherapy and Botox courses as part of her training. A spokesperson for the trust said while it 鈥渃ontinues to be in a strong position financially鈥, it has 鈥渘ot always met the high standards that should be expected of us when it comes to how our school鈥檚 finances have been managed and spent鈥. A 鈥渉uge amount of work has already been undertaken鈥, and the warning notice 鈥済ives us the opportunity to show that our new leadership team will continue to do things in the right way for the right reasons鈥. Dorrington is also working with the government and its legal team in 鈥渆xploring whether some of the former transactions can be reversed鈥. Conflict concerns over Harrods gift The investigation also uncovered 鈥渆xcessive spending on retirement gifts and a Harrods鈥 hamper for a consultant鈥. The consultant is said to have 鈥渉ad a direct role鈥 in Barratt鈥檚 鈥減erformance management, leading to a real and perceived conflict of interest that the trust did not adequately consider鈥. Dorrington also failed to maintain 鈥渁dequate documentation鈥, appropriate reporting or seek the approval of the ESFA for related-party transactions. The trust had a majority of members who were also trustees, but that has since been resolved. Legal 鈥榠ndemnity鈥 Dorrington鈥檚 accounts for 2023-24, published last month, show auditors flagged further funding rule breaches. One was over a 鈥渢wo-year consultancy contract鈥 worth 拢120,000. The arrangement 鈥渨as not subject to a formal tendering or value-for-money process鈥. Despite this, 鈥渢he whole of this contract is understood to remain payable鈥, accounts added. When the deal was signed off, an indemnity was given that protected 鈥渢he recipient against costs incurred in connection with any potential proceedings taken in connection with matters arising as a result鈥 of their role at Dorrington. This did not receive ESFA approval. Yet the 鈥渋ndemnity is still in place鈥. Accounts do not show who was given the contract. However, the services 鈥渁re not being used after the senior team enquired into the circumstances鈥, the accounts add. Bid to reverse payments The Dorrington notice highlights government concerns 鈥渋n relation to the breadth of evidence demonstrating a lack of effective practice in approaches to financial management at the trust鈥. The Department for Education said the notice followed 鈥渟erious breaches鈥 of academy rules and would 鈥渙nly be lifted when we have strong, evidence-based assurance that similar breaches will not take place鈥. A Dorrington spokesperson highlighted that the government recognised the 鈥減ositive action the trust has recently taken to address the concerns鈥. Barratt, who retired in August, now works as a 鈥渂usiness and education leadership consultant鈥. She was approached for comment through her website and publishers. She published a book last year titled: 鈥淚f The Gravy is Good, Then Lick the Plate.鈥