ACADEMIES are squandering public money on “vanity projects,” first-class international travel, nights out and branded goods rather than educating children, teachers said over the weekend.

School bosses are wasting cash from government grants on award ceremonies and “branded biscuits” instead of much-needed resources, delegates at NASUWT’s annual conference heard.

Wendy Exton, a member of the union’s executive, told delegates of one multiacademy trust (MAT) CEO who took colleagues out on a Friday night to the cost of “£2,000, which was billed to the school.”