She then spent £3,300 of school funds on two celebration parties.But in October 2002 a complaint was made, alleging nepotism, and the Audit Commission began a two-year investigation. Dame Jean was suspended on full pay from her post last November, along with her sister and a third member of staff.The "public interest" report, published today, concludes: "The headteacher has made serious errors of judgment ... Ms Rochford rose to become assistant head of the school on a salary of £60,722.Dame Jean was honoured for services to education in 2001 when Estelle Morris was Education Secretary. The BBC, CNN, Sky, Reuters and the Associated Press all said they had no plans to withdraw correspondents, despite the attack on a location once regarded as a media safe house.. Dame Jean Else, one of Britain's most high-profile head teachers was honoured by the government for her success in transforming an underperforming inner-city school. But while the "super-head" was in charge of Whalley Range High School in Manchester, she made illegal payments and wasted taxpayers' money, according to an Audit Commission report. While head teacher of the school - motto: "Not for oneself but for all" - her pay rose from £76,193 to more than £141,000.Dame Jean paid a personal friend £13,200 for unauthorised "consultancy'" work, while her twin sister, Maureen Rochford, was appointed as clerical assistant at the school despite a "clear conflict of interest", the report says. "We're hoping it'll be in the charts for Christmas," adds George.That'll be an uphill struggle: Carroll's last chart success was in 1963..
News organisations that still have a presence in Baghdad insist they will stay in the Iraqi capital after yesterday's bomb blasts close to the Palestine Hotel, the base for many foreign journalists there. In fact, I've placed a bet on winning 33 seats at the next general election, whenever that is."The launch coincides with a move to revive Carroll's musical career, with a new album, Back on Song. "And Van Morrison showed up to lend his support, so we've got celebrity backing. We intend to field candidates at all major elections in future. First its director, Robin Hardy, called in lawyers to have his name taken off promotional material. Now The Wicker Man's star, Christopher Lee, has stuck the boot in, too. Having been asked to take a role in May Day, he's refused."I've told them I'm having nothing to do with it", he tells me.
"I just think what's the point of remaking a great film? Making a classic Scottish film in America, having my character played by a woman - it's just pointless". And clearly a sensitive subject.* A late entry to the political arena for the 71-year-old rocker Ronnie Carroll. He has just been registered as the leader of a new political party, called Make Politicians History, backed by the eccentric activist Rainbow George."We had a launch party in Northern Ireland recently," George tells me. Several listeners complained, and Ofcom has agreed that "an apology should have been offered" by the presenter, Jo Whiley.The hip-hopper has just completed a tour entitled "Anger Management" so perhaps next time he'll be able to apologise for himself.* Remaking any classic film is a risky business, but usually the stars of the original movie at least wait until they've seen the new version before they start complaining.Not so with May Day - a Nicholas Cage vehicle based on the Scottish hit, The Wicker Man. Now he's come up against a more formidable authority still: the British broadcasting watchdog, Ofcom, who are cross that he has taken to swearing across our delicate airwaves.Having been pelted with bottles of urine (and a camping chair) on stage by an unappreciative audience at the Reading music festival, he was provoked to use the words "piss", "pissing" and "fuck" on Radio 1's lunchtime chat show. "I wouldn't mind getting my hands dirty," she adds.* In a long and distinguished career as a trouble-maker, the rap artiste 50 Cent has had brushes with the law for narcotics and gun possession.
