Former tutor Brian Crawford alleges management and another former tutor at a Milton employment training centre regularly drank alcohol on the job, covered up random acts of violence, humiliated trainees, falsely inflated roll numbers and created a culture of fear.
Mr Crawford worked at the centre for more than two years but says he quit in April after what he called more than a year of unacceptable behaviour by fellow tutors and management at both the centre and the school, which receives government funding.
The school strongly denies the allegations, saying it is "astounded and saddened" by the claims, which it says are "untrue, defamatory and breach agreed confidentiality agreements".
The Tertiary Education Commission says it has no issues with how the school handles its funding allocation.
Mr Crawford (53) presented documents and other details to National's education spokeswoman, Anne Tolley, who this week said the allegations, on first impressions, "sound appalling".
Ms Tolley plans to meet Mr English in Wellington on Monday about the claims.
Ms Tolley said there were always two sides to a story but was concerned about the allegations.
Mr English will not be rushed into making a judgement over the allegations.
"But they are significant enough that they need to be cleared up," the Clutha-Southland MP said when contacted yesterday.
There were three key issues, he said - whether public money had been used inappropriately, if the behaviour of staff breached employment agreements and whether that behaviour constituted criminal activity.
"But, no doubt, there is another side to this story and I need to find out more before I can say much more."
He planned to speak to the Tokomairiro school board in the coming days.
"I'm keen to see and ensure whether there is more to this than just rumour. I've got to be sure there is some substance to [the allegations]."
