Concerns NI grammar school misled EA investigation regarding safari payment

During tan initial investigation concerns were raised regarding a £5,462.11 payment made by the school to River Bend Lodge in South Africa for a safari

Concerns have been raised that a grammar school misled an EA investigation into financial misconduct.

The concerns come as four unions representing staff have contacted Assumption Grammar School expressing concerns regarding issues at the school and have requested an audit of industrial relations to deal with them.

The Education Authority carried out an investigation into Assumption Grammar School, Ballynahinch, after concerns were raised regarding financial misconduct which involved the use of school credit cards.

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During the investigation concerns were raised regarding a £5,462.11 payment made by the school to River Bend Lodge in South Africa for a safari. The school has said the trip was booked by delegates who were due to attend a conference in South Africa in 2020 and claims they had intended to pay for it themselves.

However, after the conference was cancelled due to Covid, these delegates are alleged to have given the booking to the Religious Sisters in South Africa as a gift as the costs couldn’t have this booking refunded, with the school covering the cost.

During the investigation into the EA’s finances, the interim report produced by the auditor in January 2025 said that it was “waiting for confirmation that £5,462.11 used to pay for accommodation at River Bend Lodge, South Africa has been transferred from an income-generating account to the operating account. The source of the money to repay the outstanding monies on the Safari expedition is irrelevant.”

The investigation into the school ended prior to the end of the 2024/25 school year, however the EA has refused to provide the full details of its findings to the public, only releasing a heavily redacted version.

Now, following a Freedom of Information request by a former Governor at the school, it can be revealed that Assumption only received this payment on September 26, 2025, months after the EA had concluded its investigation.

Concerns have now been raised to Belfast Live by sources close to the school that Assumption misled the EA auditor during his investigation where it has appeared to claim that the repayment had already been made in January 2025 when it had not.

The Education Authority and Assumption Grammar School have been contacted for comment.

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