THE former head of a flagship Bradford school has been charged with a string of financial offences following a police investigation which took more than a year to complete.

Sajid Hussain Raza, who was in charge at Kings Science Academy in Lidget Green, will now face three fraud charges along with three allegations of false accounting, two of obtaining money by deception and one of fraud by false representation.

He is now due to appear before Magistrates in Leeds.

Police were called in to investigate the school finances after a Department for Education report, triggered by a whistle-blower and released in October 2013, revealed tens of thousands of pounds in start-up money had been improperly used.

Mr Raza, 42, of Spring Gardens Road, Bradford, stood down from his job as principal after his arrest and left the school in August.

Kings Academy was among the country's first free schools when it opened in 2011 and was visited by Prime Minister David Cameron the following year, who later praised it.

Yesterday CPS lawyer Julian Briggs said: "Having carefully considered all of the evidence presented to us, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to charge Sajid Hussain Raza (Principal) with a range of offences relating to his involvement with the Kings Science Academy, Bradford, and that it is in the public interest to do so.

"Accordingly I have today authorised West Yorkshire Police to charge Sajid Hussain Raza with three offences of fraud by abuse of position, three offences of false accounting, two offences of obtaining a money transfer by deception, and one offence of fraud by false representation. He will first appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court shortly."

The school is now part of the Dixons academy chain and has changed its name.

A statement issued by Rahman Ravelli Solicitors said Mr Raza was determined to clear his name.

"The investigation process has been a difficult period of time for Mr Raza. Now he has been charged, Mr Raza will be working with Rahman Ravelli to try and establish his innocence," it added.

West Yorkshire Police confirmed the charges relate to financial matters at the school between April and August 2011.

Bradford Council leader David Green last night said: "For the good of the children attending the school and for the good of the education system in the district, we would hope this can be resolved as quickly as possible to allow the spotlight to fall on education rather than this unfortunate story."