A former senior official at one of Scotland’s largest councils has admitted making up false teacher numbers to meet government targets.
Andrew Sutherland, who was head of education at North Lanarkshire council, instructed staff to falsify data on the pupil-to-teacher ratio at schools in the area. He submitted a false figure for 2014 after realising the ratio would be higher than the previous year and to avoid the local authority being fined.
Mr Sutherland, who earned more than £116,000 a year, resigned from his role as executive director of learning and leisure services in February 2016, amid an investigation by the council.
The outcome of the inquiry was not made public but he has now admitted wrongdoing after his case was referred to his professional