DfE behaviour adviser’s company paid “unlawful dividend” of �211,800, accounts reveal

A company part-owned by Tom Bennett, the Department for Education’s lead behaviour adviser, paid an “unlawful dividend” of �211,800 during 2022-23, recently-filed accounts disclose.

Anvil Education Limited, which Mr Bennett set up and which he owns with an Anna Bennett, paid out the sum, which was unlawful because it exceeded the amount the company held in terms of distributable profits at the time.

The £211,800 was the total amount paid to Mr Bennett and Ms Bennett, as owners of the company.

The dividend put the company’s profit and loss account into deficit, although a note in the accounts states that Anvil’s directors and owners – Mr Bennett and Ms Bennett – were confident that this would be “rectified” in the coming year.

Anvil Education Limited is the company name for Tom Bennett Training, the brand associated with training courses Mr Bennett runs, advising teachers and school leaders on managing pupil behaviour.