Glemsford Community Primary School

CALLS have been made for changes in regulations covering leasing agreements after it emerged a school in west Suffolk was left owing hundreds of thousands of pounds.

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According to reports on BBC Radio 5 Live, Glemsford Community Primary School has been left owing an estimated £500,000 after it unwittingly signed a long-term lease on 100 laptop computers staff thought they were getting for free.

The Five Live Investigates programme, which aired over the weekend, reported that the school had been approached by a sales person from a company called Direct Technology Solutions Ltd, who said they would supply the laptops without charge as part of a promotion.

But when the company went into administration, Glemsford Primary was left exposed to thousands of pounds worth of liabilities owed to Clydesdale Bank, which it cannot afford.

Yesterday, staff at the school refused to speak about the issue. However, a spokesman for Suffolk County Council admitted school staff members had been left “shaken” and the council was seeing “what can be done to help the school”.

He was able to confirm that the school had leased 100 laptops but said, after speaking to the school, that the £500,000 reported by 5 Live was “way off.”

He added: “We are not aware of any other Suffolk schools that have been affected. Until our investigation is completed, we are unable to provide any further comment.”

An auditor, who initially suggested Five Live look into the problem, has said Glemsford primary was just one of many schools nationwide that have become victim following approaches by equipment suppliers.

Martin Tucker, a partner at the Leasing Advisory Service in Solihull, said: “There’s a particular problem with schools being approached by suppliers of photocopiers, telecoms and IT equipment. Leasing is a good way for schools to obtain equipment but some of the agreements are very complicated.”

He said he would like to see stricter regulations that force suppliers to be more open about the real costs relating to leasing agreements.”

A spokesperson for Clydesdale Bank said: “We have financed the purchase of equipment for a small number of Local Authority schools through a third party. We have acted in good faith and have had no involvement with the supply of the equipment itself.”