Grangewood Independent Primary under governance investigation

Private Christian school Grangewood Independent Primary School in Newham is under investigation following serious concerns about the charity’s governance.

The Charity Commission has opened an investigation into Grangewood Educational Association, the charity that runs the school.

The school has been experiencing financial difficulties and entered into a company voluntary arrangement in 2014. The charity’s premises were sold in 2015 which has allowed the school to keep operating. As a result of the death of one trustee and the resignation of another, the charity has recently been functioning with only one trustee. This is in breach of the charity’s governing document which requires three trustees to make decisions.

The Commission’s engagement was prompted by recent complaints about the charity’s governance and management.

The inquiry will examine the extent to which the trustees have complied with the governing document of the charity; the financial control and management of the charity; and whether the trustees have avoided or adequately managed potential conflicts of interest.

The inquiry will also investigate the extent to which the trustees complied with the requirements of the Charities Act when disposing of the charity’s property in 2015; decisions regarding the charity’s future; and whether connected party transactions and remuneration to trustees have been properly authorised.


Due to the lack of effective governance oversight over the charity, the Commission has appointed Geoff Carton-Kelly and Jason Daniel Baker of FRP Advisory as joint interim managers of the charity. This means that they will take on full control of the day-to-day management and administration of the charity from the current trustee until the Commission makes a further order.

The school presently remains in operation. Part of the Interim Managers’ duties will be to establish the viability of the charity and the school it operates and determine the most appropriate option regarding the charity’s future.

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