"Coventry headteachers paid up to £97,000 as city secondary schools ranked among worst in country"

[dutchman]

The top ten highest earning headteachers at state schools in Coventry earn almost £750,000 in combined wages - despite the city’s secondary schools being ranked among the worst in the country.


Coun David Kershaw

Figures obtained by the Telegraph under the Freedom of Information Act show that the highest earning headteacher in the city takes home an annual income of over £97,000, with the second and third earning almost £84,000 and £80,000 respectively.

The numbers have been revealed as the city’s secondary schools are ranked among the worst in the UK by education watchdog Ofsted.

Two years ago 81 per cent of secondary schools in the city achieved one of the two top grades of ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ - but that has now dropped to 57 per cent.

Guidance from the government’s Department for Education (DfE) shows that headteachers outside of London were paid a maximum of £107,210 and a minimum of £43,665 in 2015/16.

The DfE figures also showed most teachers earned between £22,000 and £32,000.

In Coventry, the top ten headteachers earned: £97,128; £83,892; £79,872; £74,215; £72,419; £70,668; £68,962; £67,290; £65,661 and £64,074.

The figures covered the period from September 2014 to September 2015, but Coventry City Council said it could not disclose which schools were paying the highest salaries due to restrictions under the Data Protection Act.

The numbers do not include wages paid at private schools or academies.

Labour Coun David Kershaw, the council’s cabinet member for education, said the salaries had been negotiated with central government and could be influenced by a number of factors including length of service.

He said: “Having been a headteacher for almost 25 years, I think - almost without exception - they earn every penny.

“They are hugely responsible jobs which can require you to be responsible for about 500 people. They’re big jobs.

“They are doing one of the most important jobs in this city. They have the responsibility of exciting and changing the lives of young people. There can’t be a better, or more rewarding, job in the world.

“Headteachers need to be recognised for what they are doing. In Coventry it’s very fair, they have risen to the challenge they have been given.”

Asked about the disappointing performance of the city’s secondary schools in recent years, he said: “We’re addressing it at this moment.

“I predict that over the next two or three years will be significant. I have no doubt about that.

“Our heads acknowledge that there’s more work to be done and they are doing it with great determination.”

[rebbonk]

They are berated for under performing, but I wonder just how much of that is the LEA's fault?

Rather than bash headteachers, I'd far rather see the higher paid within the council take a hit for their lacklustre performance. PRP all round eh Kershaw?

[rebbonk]

One of the greatest issues is the number of children that don't speak English as a first language. - Head teachers can't do much about that, but it is bound to have an impact in the measures used.