Revealed: “exceptional” �150k-plus salaries are nearly ubiquitous for leaders of England’s 20 largest academy trusts

Last year, ministers said pay of �150,000 within the academies sector should only be awarded in cases of “exceptional performance and leadership”.

Yet a new analysis by Education Uncovered shows that all but one of the 20 largest academy trusts had someone paid at least that figure in 2017-18.

Indeed, my analysis of the accounts of these 20 trusts, which were published last month, shows the average minimum pay of the most well-remunerated person within each MAT was £203,500*.

That, then, is more than £50,000 above what ministers said should be remuneration only to be awarded in exceptional circumstances.

In fact, the accounts show that, among these 20 trusts alone, there were 41 people paid at least £150,000 in 2017-18, or roughly two per MAT, although this total is clearly skewed by the fact that one trust – the Harris Federation – had 11 people on at least £150,000.