Cleared superhead thanks support
An award-winning superhead cleared on claims of attendance figures irregularities was "overwhelmed" by support.
Dame Mo Brennan was quizzed by police over allegations about her time at Hillcrest School and Community College, Netherton, Dudley.
An investigation was launched after alleged discrepancies were claimed to have been uncovered during a routine audit at the school.
She told the Express & Star that she could now focus on helping pupils after seeing her "difficult time" come to an end.
The 55-year-old, now at Barr Beacon Language College, Old Hall Lane, Walsall, said: "Following an extensive police investigation which was completed by the end of 2008, I have been exonerated of any criminal offence.
"The police have worked hard and conducted a most diligent investigation. It has been a most difficult time for myself and my colleagues, but now I can continue to focus on raising the life chances of the pupils in my care.
"I could not have felt more supported by the good wishes I have received from so many people in the Walsall, Birmingham and Dudley areas.
"It has been overwhelming. I would also like to thank the Express & Star for publishing this outcome."
Claims date back to between 2004 and 2007, but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) believed that there was "insufficient evidence" to charge three senior members of staff, including Mrs Brenann, with any fraud related offences.
Hillcrest principal April Garratt did not wish to comment on the CPS's decision but did not confirm all three members of staff were no longer working at the school.
Mrs Brennan is crediting with turning around the fortunes of the once failing Hillcrest school.
When she arrived in 2000, the school had been put in 'special measures' by Ofsted inspectors, with less than one in five pupils gaining five GCSEs at grades A to C.
Witihin months the school's 'special measures' tag had been removed and, by the time she left seven years later, exam results had improved by almost 200 per cent.
She was awarded the title of Dame in 2005, after meeting Tony Blair the previous year to discuss her ideas about education.
Among the innovative schemes she introduced in Netherton were the involving the pupils in designing a new school uniform, to improve the general attitude among youngsters.
