A former finance manager at Wapping High School has appeared in court accused of defrauding the school of £206,000.
Gurjit Sidhu, 45, of Dock Head Road in Chatham, appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 6 November.
He faces three charges, including transferring £206,000 from the school into his personal bank account and creating fake invoices.
Sidhu is charged with fraud by abuse of position, allegedly dishonestly abusing his role as the school’s finance manager to obtain £206,000 for himself.
He also faces a charge of disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property by transferring the money from the school into his personal bank account.
A third charge accuses him of fraud by false representation, namely creating false invoices.
All three alleged offences took place between 2 January 2024 and 20 March 2026, during his time as the school’s finance manager.
Sidhu confirmed his name, date of birth and address in court but did not enter a plea. He was granted unconditional bail.
District Judge McIvor adjourned the case to Snaresbrook Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on Friday, 4 December.
Wapping High School opened on Commercial Road in 2012 as an “intentionally smaller-than-average school” and is run by Wapping and Shadwell Secondary Education Trust.
The school announced in February that it would close by summer 2027 due to falling pupil numbers.
