THE former head of a Bradford free school has been re-bailed following his arrest on suspicion of fraud more than a year ago.

Sajid Hussain Raza, the founder of Kings Science Academy in Lidget Green, was arrested on January 9 last year following an police investigation into the school's finances.

He was bailed pending further investigations, and West Yorkshire Police has said he had been re-bailed to an undisclosed date after answering bail this week.

It is the second time Mr Raza has been re-bailed. He first answered bail last June and was re-bailed pending further inquiries.

His arrest came several months after a Department for Education probe, triggered by a whistleblower, found "serious failings" in its finances.

A police spokesman yesterday said: "A 42-year-old man arrested on suspicion of fraud offences answered his bail and has been bailed pending further inquiries."

Mr Raza stood down from his role as principal shortly after the arrest, and was sacked in August following a school disciplinary investigation.

The school has since been taken over by the Dixons Academy chain, and is now known as Dixons Kings Academy. The new principal, Neil Miley, took up the role at the start of the term.

Opening in 2011, Kings Science Academy was one of the first free schools in the country. Prime Minister David Cameron visited the school in March 2012 and praised the school in a letter to Mr Raza shortly afterwards.

The report had raised a number of issues over how the school was run in its early days, issues that MPs have followed up in parliament. Bradford East MP David Ward has asked numerous questions about how the academy was set up.

He said yesterday: "This investigation has been unbelievably long. I hope the length of time of this investigation means they are doing a completely thorough job.

"Whenever I have asked for more information about the background to Kings I have always been told by the Department For Education they can't discuss it because of the police investigation.

"I am constantly told I can't be provided with information.

"When this investigation is over I will still be asking these questions about whether the DofE exercised due diligence when it came to how the school was set up.

"When Kings was set up David Cameron said it was almost a perfect example of how a school should be run. It is a shame the outcome of this investigation probably won't come out this side of the General Election."

Councillor Ralph Berry, executive member for children's services at the Council, said he was happy the school had found an academy sponsor in Dixons, adding: "The investigation has taken a long time, but my main concern is that children at the school get the best possible education."

MORE EDUCATION HEADLINES