The Education and Skills Funding Agency has upheld concerns raised by a whistleblower about the Olive Tree Primary School, a free school in Bolton, Schools Week reports.

An ESFA investigation found ‘significant breaches of the Academies Financial Handbook’.  These included the single-academy trust paying £911.87 expenses for its chair to attend an Apple event in Chicago, in breach of its Articles of Association.

The trust has also been sent a Financial Notice to Improve.