Christina Kenna, who is contesting the county council's West Depwade ward, was paid almost £5,000 for "consultancy services" by an academy trust managed by her own daughter.

An investigation by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) in 2025 found that the payments broke the rules, although it did not apportion blame to Ms Kenna herself.

Ms Kenna is standing in the West Depwade division (Image: Supplied)

Several claims made in her leaflets has raised eyebrows in the area (Image: Supplied)

However, her opponents have called on her to explain more about the scandal.

Kim Carsok, chairwoman of the South Norfolk and Waveney Valley Conservative Federation, and who is standing against Ms Kenna, said: "We need the Green Party to explain with full transparency so voters can make an informed decision on whether they'd trust her with our money and services.

Kim Carsok, who is standing against Ms Kenna (Image: Supplied)

 “As a school governor myself, I know it's vital we have absolute integrity in how public money is handled. 

Ms Kenna - who cites her "huge experience in education" in her election material and also describes "accountability" as among her skills and expertise - has declined to comment.

A Green Party spokeswoman said: "The candidate was never investigated or accused of any wrongdoing.

"An investigation did find that the educational trust failed to complete all the required paperwork relating to her consultancy, meaning compliance requirements were not fully met."

Mike Crouch, a Labour parish councillor in Bunwell, in the West Depward division - which also covers Long Stratton - described the payment saga as a "nepotistic scheme".

Mike Crouch is a parish councillor in Bunwell (Image: Mike Crouch)

Writing on Facebook, he said: "Many have had a computer-generated, faux-handwritten letter from Green candidate Christina Kenna today, she claims she has a 'huge experience in education' and to understand 'the issues that concern you'.

"Well Christina, the fact that you trousered large sums of public money meant for the education of our county's children through a nepotistic scheme with your daughter concerns me a bit, as I'm sure it will plenty of others."

The investigation by the ESA was launched after a whistleblower raised concerns about financial irregularities at the Trust, which ran three primary schools in Norwich and one in Lingwood.

A report published in October last year identified 29 breaches of academy rules.

Former Heart Education Trust chief executive Hazel Cubbage (Image: Linked In)

Central to the findings was the financial relationship between Ms Kenna, the trust's former chief executive, and her daughter Hazel Cubbage, who succeeded her in the role in 2022. 

The trust paid Ms Kenna £4,747 in consultancy fees under Ms Cubbage's leadership - without proper contracts, policies or value-for-money assessments, and failed to disclose the payments in its annual accounts.

Ms Kenna in 2007 (Image: Adrian Judd)

They were also not reported to the government's education funding body as required.

The probe ran alongside a separate Department for Education intervention that resulted in the trust's four schools transferring to the Unity Schools Partnership in September 2024.

Ms Cubbage, who led the trust until the merger was confirmed, has said all payments to her mother were approved by the board and considered to represent value for money.

However she did acknowledge that in the absence of a competent chief financial officer, required forms were not completed and compliance requirements were not fully met. 

Ms Kenna did not comment on the findings.

WHAT ELSE DOES THE GREEN SAY? 

In a lengthy personal statement supporting her candidacy for the Greens, Ms Kenna lists "accountability" and "finance" among her areas of expertise, alongside quotes from Gandhi.

It also describes a career spanning three decades in education.

She has boasted about her educational past within her materials (Image: Supplied)

She started teaching in London schools before settling in Norfolk in 2003. 

She says she was commended by then deputy prime minister Nick Clegg for reaching the top 5pc of schools nationally for improvements in attainment among disadvantaged children. 

She also highlights voluntary work including coaching women migrants and refugees, community projects in London, and environmental initiatives within schools such as orchards, allotments and smallholdings.

She was employed as the headteacher of Heartsease Primary Academy between 2005 to 2016, while also being appointed the Heart Education Trust CEO in 2013.

Heartsease Primary Academy (Image: Archant)

She would hold the role until 2022, when her daughter succeeded her.

Her LinkedIn now states she works as a self-employed consultant.

She has also previously spent time as a parish councillor in Long Stratton. 

She said her priorities for West Depwade include balancing renewable energy development with concerns over solar farms and pylons, housing infrastructure, and the depletion of agricultural land.

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