Five Islands School: Bryce Wilby inquiry is to reopen

Bryce Wilby was suspended in May and an audit investigation was launched

An investigation into the former head teacher of an Isles of Scilly school after allegations of financial irregularities is to be reopened.

Former Five Islands School head Bryce Wilby was suspended in May.

An investigation by Cornwall Council closed in August without him giving evidence because it said he did not respond. The Isles of Scilly Council was due to debate its report this week.

Mr Wilby, 46, said he was "delighted" at the reopening.

'Greatly puzzled'

He was suspended in May after the allegations were raised, which he has denied.

An independent investigation was begun by an audit team from neighbouring Cornwall Council.

Cornwall Council said it closed the initial investigation after Mr Wilby failed to respond to queries after about six weeks, despite it attempting to contact him through his union.

The council said Mr Wilby now had two weeks from 1 October to be interviewed by investigators.

It added: "The Council of the Isles of Scilly, the governing body of the Five Islands School and Cornwall Council Internal Audit Service are pleased at this development, and look forward to a final conclusion of this matter in the near future."

In his first statement since the suspension, Mr Wilby said he was "delighted" at the reopening of the investigation, despite saying he "only received this news via the press rather than my employer".

He added: "I am greatly puzzled by the assertion that I was previously unavailable for interview as I have emails and phone logs that prove otherwise.

"However, this is good news, so long as a full record is kept of the meeting and any subsequent investigation following up the evidence I shall present is incorporated into the eventual report to the Isles of Scilly Council."

The chairman of the Council of the Isles of Scilly, Mike Hicks, said it was vital that Mr Wilby could give evidence.

Mr Hicks said last week he would not accept any report into the affair without Mr Wilby having been given a chance to respond to the allegations.