Teacher to be questioned over missing works of art

A teacher already under investigation for financial irregularities at a north London school is now facing more questions over a string of missing works of art.

The valuable paintings at the centre of the controversy were originally donated to Copland Community School in Wembley by Royal Academician Mary Fedden to allow pupils to appreciate them.

However, the Portland Gallery in Mayfair, which exhibits much of her work, discovered 15 of them have been sold at Sotheby's over the past few years leading to questions over why the paintings had been sold and how the money was spent.

The gallery has emailed the school requesting an explanation of deputy head teacher Dr Richard Evans's alleged activity.

The email read: "It has now come to light Dr Evans has been consigning Mary Fedden paintings for sale at Sotheby's - around 15 of them have been sold (for many thousands of pounds) over the last several years."

Dr Evans is already suspended alongside head teacher Sir Alan Davies over allegations that senior staff shared bonuses totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds.