It is alleged that while all six were based at the Copland School, in Wembley, money was paid out in improper bonuses

A knighted ‘superhead’ and five of his former colleagues appeared in court today in connection with a �2.7million fraud.

Sir Alan Davies, 65, is accused of conspiring with former deputy head Dr Richard Evans, 55, then chairman of governors Indravadan Patel, 72, and with Columbus Udokoro, 61, Michele McKenzie, 52, and Martin Day, 57, to defraud Brent Council.

It is alleged that while all six were based at the Copland School, in Wembley, money was paid out in improper bonuses between April 2003 and June 2009.

Davies, Evans, McKenzie and Day, appeared at Southwark Crown Court for a brief hearing from which Patel and Udokoro were excused.

Judge Alistair McCreath ordered all six to return to the same court on October 26 to enter their pleas.

Davies, who was decorated for his services to education, is also accused of laundering more than �270,000 of the money by transferring it from an English to a Spanish bank account in March 2008.

He is further charged with falsifying accounts and faces a more general allegation of abusing his position by failing to safeguard the school’s financial interests.

Evans, an education adviser to David Cameron, is also accused of taking part in the conspiracy, failing to comply with his duties and helping to arrange for the bonuses to be paid.

It is also alleged he withheld information about the true extent of salaries from both the governing body and council.

According to court documents Davies, of Grants Close, Mill Hill, allegedly received more than �900,000 in ‘inappropriate payments’.

Dr Evans, of Ashley Lodge, Barnet Road, Barnet, Hertfordshire, is said to have obtained �600,000.

Indravadan Patel, of Green Lane, Stanmore, Middlesex, is also accused of involvement in the scam.

He faces one charge of conspiracy to defraud and another of falsifying documents for accounting purposes.

Udokoro, of Whitton Drive, Greenford, and McKenzie, 52, of Shaldon Drive, Ruislip, are both accused of conspiracy to defraud and of falsifying documents for accounting purposes.

Day, of Evans Court, Halstead, Essex, faces one count of conspiracy to defraud.

At a previous hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, prosecutor David Levy said the total value of the fraud was ‘in the region of �2.7million’.

All six are remanded on bail on the condition they reside at the addresses supplied to the court.