School daze: Review launched into the £200k salaries of academy head teachers

Headteachers’ salaries will be subjected to review after it emerged that at least one was being paid more than a fifth of a million pounds yearly.

15:26 13 November 2014

The Education Funding Agency (EFA) "is planning to undertake a review of academy head salaries” after it has emerged that at least one was being paid more than £200k.

 

In a new report released by the spending watchdog, it was revealed that some head teachers make more money than the prime minister. Sir Greg Martin, executive head of the Durand Academy primary school in South London, reportedly received a total of £229,138 in 2013. This represents a 56per cent pay rise the previous year. 

 

"There were several individuals that were involved in two or more of the associated public entities or trading companies," the report says.

 

"There were also individuals that sat on the board of the academy trust that were directors or staff at companies that the academy trust had contracted or purchased services from, and other transactions between individual connected parties.

 

"Some contracts had been awarded without competition."

 

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Durand Academy Trust defended that Sir Greg was worth it and hailed his "brilliant leadership".

 

"The EFA has been absolutely clear that the arrangements the NAO looked into have delivered 'significant benefits for the pupils of Durand' and were established in good faith," he said.