EDUCATION chiefs have been accused of wasting taxpayers’ money on hotel rooms for a £63,000 conference.

Some 180 people booked rooms for the three-day conference - held at the Holiday Inn in Stratford-upon-Avon in March - which aimed to improve the knowledge and skills of headteachers and deputy headteachers.

The hotel’s bill, seen by the Oxford Mail, was for £63,290.40.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance described the cost as “unnecessary” and questioned the need for it to be held outside Oxfordshire.

On March 23, 182 people stayed overnight, while 179 stayed on March 24. Seven people stayed on March 22.

The majority of delegates were head and deputy headteachers, representing about two thirds of Oxfordshire’s primary and secondary schools.

The bill shows most rooms cost £150 a night, including food. Not all the delegates stayed the night and some only had bed and breakfast.

Headteachers and deputy heads paid for the rooms out of individual school budgets, from training and professional development funds, the organiser and a local headteacher said.

Councillor Michael Waine, cabinet member for schools improvement, and 16 county council staff members also stayed, costing County Hall about £5,000.

The total accommodation bill was more than £54,850, with other costs including hiring equipment, conference rooms and WiFi Internet paid for by corporate sponsorship.

Emma Boon, The TaxPayers’ Alliance campaign director, said: “At a time when the council and these schools have to look at ways to save money, it’s unbelievable that they are spending on unnecessary extras like hotel stays.

“Headteachers and council officers could have kept costs down at this conference by holding it closer to home.”

County council spokesman Paul Smith said: “Organisers certainly need to give thought to the venue for such events, with costs to all involved being a central part of those thoughts.”

The conference featured presentations from industry experts, networking opportunities and workshops, including role-playing exercises by professional actors.

Special guests included Roy Leighton, a motivational speaker, Jim Smith, a deputy headteacher in Bristol, and Nick Boles MP. Hiring the speakers – along with hiring the PA equipment and conference rooms – was paid for by corporate sponsorship, about £12,000.

Conference committee chairman Philip Marples said: “It’s very good value.

“If, in business, you ran a two-day conference with the quality of speakers we had, you would probably be paying two or three times as much.”

The conference has been held in Stratford-upon-Avon for the last four years. Before that it was held in Bournemouth.

Mr Marples said it was important to hold it outside Oxfordshire because it got people out of their work environment.

He said: “Change stimulates, it makes people think and communicate better.

“It’s the only time we go on a residential, and it’s a special occasion for people who are being described by politicians as the most important people in schools.”

He said it would not be right for people to travel home in the evenings, saying: “Why shouldn’t people sit down together in the evening over coffee?

“That’s when often the best communication happens.”

Anna Ballance, headteacher at Wolvercote Primary School, First Turn, was one of those who attended.

She said: “It’s the only time in the year I get to go away with a group of my colleagues and can be inspired.”