Record number of academy heads earn over £150,000

A record 775 heads of school academies in England earned over £150,000 in 2022-23, up from 12% in 2018-19. Nearly a third of academy trusts awarded such salaries, raising concerns about accountability amid stagnant pay for teachers. Some academy leaders saw significant pay increases, with Martin Haworth earning at least £345,000, and others like Justin James and Carl Ward receiving raises of 18% and 13%, respectively. Critics argue these salaries are unjustified given teachers' below-inflation pay rises. The government is pushing for better accountability in academy pay structures. A new bill aims to align academy teacher salaries with those in maintained schools, but leaders warn it could hinder recruitment efforts.