Headteacher suspended amid 'irregularities' claim

The headteacher of a Roman Catholic primary school has been suspended indefinitely amid allegations of "irregularities".

Maureen Crandles, the head of St Ninian's Primary School in the Restalrig area of Edinburgh, was told yesterday that an investigation was to take place.

It is understood the investigation surrounds the way Mrs Crandles carries out her duties at the school while also running the Early Days Nursery School in Palmerston Place, Edinburgh.

A spokeswoman for Edinburgh City Council's education department has confirmed that disciplinary action had taken place but refused to give details of the investigation.

She said: "She has been suspended pending an investigation into administrative and procedural irregularities. We can't really go into details because it's an ongoing disciplinary matter."

The spokeswoman refused to either confirm or deny reports that the investigation will centre on the alleged use of school staff in the running of the nursery.

It has also been reported that auditors have been sent to the primary school to investigate its administration.

Mrs Crandles, who lives with her husband John in the Corstorphine area of Edinburgh, and has been in charge of the school for more than a decade, was not available for comment.

However, Mr Crandles said his wife had known nothing about the allegations before being suspended yesterday. He also said his wife still had no idea why she had been relieved of her duties and what the circumstances of the investigation were.

Mr Crandles said: "She was just told yesterday that she was being suspended and that was it. It came totally out of the blue. We do not know what is happening yet. She has been told not to go into school, but we do not know what she has been charged with."