Figures published by the DfE show that record numbers of head teachers are being paid at least £100,000. Most of the highest earners are employed by academies; however it is also the case that a significant and increasing number of academy heads are now responsible for not just one school, but a group of schools.
What this often means in practice is a budget of hundreds of millions of pounds; as well as thousands of staff and tens of thousands of students. Would we question this level of salary for similar levels of responsibility in the private sector? Rather than focusing on the amount paid, it would perhaps be more helpful to acknowledge the great work done by many.
Recent recommendations on this topic include the introduction of salary benchmarking and increased flexibility for all schools in setting SLT pay. If accepted by the DfE I’m sure this will be welcomed by governing bodies that have the unenviable responsibility for setting pay levels.
What goes without saying is the need for robust performance management to ensure that these high earners deliver.