NEWS


STRB calls for a £140,226 cap on headteachers’ pay


by Daniel White


Headteachers’ total pay should be capped at £140,226 a year, it has been advised. The Schools Teachers’ Review


Body (STRB) has recommended a limit on discretionary pay for headteachers of 25 per cent of their pay spine salary. Currently, the pay spine for


headteachers in England and Wales is limited to £105,097 outside of London with the maximum for inner London standing at £112,181. Governing bodies have the abil-


ity to award discretionary increases above the spine limits but the gov- ernment last year asked the STRB


to make recommendations on cap- ping these payments. In setting this remit, education minister Michael Gove made reference to the coali- tion’s pledge that any public sector wage above that of the prime min- ister’s (£142,500) would have to be authorised by government. While there is no single database


of headteachers’ pay, the STRB reported that around 100 leadership group teachers earned above the maximum of the pay spine in Inner London in 2009. Of these, 14 were earning more than £140,000 and two more than £180,000. It also said that where headteach-


ers were in receipt of additional payments or allowances, these tended to be greatest for those on


the highest basic salaries and some payments exceeding £30,000. The STRB concluded that the


current leadership pay spine cov- ers the full headteacher role and provides “appropriate remunera- tion and reward for recruiting and retaining a headteacher”. In setting the 25 per cent limit


on discretionary payments, it added that there will be particular circum- stances where a governing body sees a “compelling justification” to use discretions and gave examples such as when a head takes over an additional school, where there are “substantial” recruitment or reten- tion issues, or in schools causing concern. Brian Lightman, general secre-


Exam pressure can lead to alcohol and self-harm


School children are turning to alcohol and self-harm because of the pressures of their exams. A study has revealed that 14 per


cent of young people admit turning to alchohol while eight per cent are self-harming because of the anxiety they feel ahead of their exams this summer. The ChildLine survey spoke to


1,275 children and found that more than 90 per cent of the young peo- ple feel anxious about their revi- sion and exams. The most common reason was found to be parental pressure, which more than half of the students cited. Other reasons for the young


people suffering from anxiety was the thought not getting into university (57 per cent) and the actual fear of sitting the exam (56 per cent). Two thirds of the young people


said they could not sleep because of the problem and nearly half said they skipped meals. The charity has made a number


of recommendations for parents and carers to help ease the exam stress and anxiety including encourag- ing children to take regular breaks, exercising and eating. Head of ChildLine Sue Minto said: “The exam period can be a


very stressful and anxious time for young people and young people tell us that pressure from parents is one of the top causes for anxiety, as well


as that they don’t feel supported through their exams.” For more information visit,


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tary, of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “We absolutely agree that there needs to be a defined and clear frame- work for headteachers’ pay. While making the rules fairer and more transparent, these recommenda- tions essentially mirror the exist- ing framework which allows headteachers to be paid slightly above their set scale for exceptional circumstances.” However, Chris Keates, gen-


eral secretary of the NASUWT, added: “This recommendation will not address the increasing evidence of disproportionate and excessive benefit packages being awarded to some headteachers, in addition to increased salaries.”


Christine Blower, general sec-


retary of the National Union of Teachers, was also angry that the move would not apply to acad- emies. She said: “The Labour Research Department recently exposed the extent to which acad- emies pour money into principals’ pockets. Even in 2009, well over half of academy principals were getting over £100,000, compared to only eight per cent of state second- ary heads. In very few cases is this justified by standards.” Elsewhere, the report recom-


mended a non-consolidated pay- ment of £250 – as promised by chancellor George Osborne last year – in both years of the cur- rent public sector pay freeze to


full-time teachers earning less than £21,000 a year. It also said the same payment should be pro-rated for part-time teachers based on the hours they work. However, the pay- ment will not be made to school support staff after the government scrapped the School Support Staff Negotiating Body and local govern- ment employers rejected the move. Philip Parkin, general secretary


of Voice, said: “While it is right that the small number of teachers earn- ing £21,000 or less should receive the £250, it is grossly unfair that the larger number of support staff on £21,000 or less will not.” Education secretary Michael


Gove has until June 3 to respond to the STRB’s recommendations.


More than 1,000 schools apply for academy status


More than 1,000 schools have applied to become academies in the past year, despite continuing criticism and action from trade unions. New figures from the


Department for Education (DfE) show that 1,070 have applied since June 2010 with 647 being approved. However, this is not as many


as the DfE first hoped. Education minister Michael Gove targeted 2,000 conversions when the coali- tion government came to power last year. At the time, Ofsted out- standing schools were invited to apply for academy status from June 2010, and this was quickly extended to other schools. The current number of open


academies stands at 658, but a number of education unions are opposed to the principle that these schools operate outside of local authority control and without adher- ence to national pay and conditions. The extent of the union oppo-


sition to academies has been once again illustrated this week after members of NASUWT at two schools planning to convert


Strike action: Chris Keates


in the North West of England walked out. Teachers at Shorefields


Technology College in Liverpool took to the picket line on May 11 when they were joined by the union’s national president, John Rimmer. Last Thursday (May 12), members at Crompton House CE School in Oldham followed suit. Chris Keates, general secretary


of the NASUWT, said: “Teachers want to remain in a school that is firmly linked to the local authority and is an integral part of the family of local schools. “Strike action is always a last resort but the staff feel that they


have no choice as their concerns about the proposals are being ignored. These proposals are demoralising staff and destabilis- ing educational provision.” More generally, Ms Keates has


often slammed the government for the pressure it is putting on schools to convert. She added: “The pressure


schools are facing from the DfE to convert to academy status is prov- ing to be a huge distraction from focusing on teaching and learning and, in some cases, is causing major rifts between governors, parents, staff and school leaders.” Mr Gove said the number of


applications higihlights a “fun- damental shift in power” away from government and towards teachers. He added: “Schools want the


freedom to decide what is best for their pupils. They want to be free to innovate in the class- room, inspiring pupils to learn. Academy status gives them the freedom and is the reason why even more schools will follow these pioneers in the following months and years.”


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SecEd • May 19 2011


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