Two of England’s top-paid academy leaders saw their reported remuneration drop in 2018-19

Two of England’s highest-paid academy leaders saw their reported remuneration packages drop substantially this year –although their rewards remain well above what the level the government says should only be awarded in “exceptional” circumstances.

John Tomasevic, of the Nottingham-based Nova Education Trust, seems likely to drop out of the top-10 highest-paid academy chief executives in 2018-19 after his remuneration fell by at least £40,000, from £260-£265,000 to £215-£220,000, its newly-published accounts disclosed.

Meanwhile, Sir John Townsley, of The Gorse Academy Trust (TGAT), saw his reported package fall at least £11,000, from £210-£220,000 to £190-£199,000, although that trust says this did not amount to a pay cut, with the discrepancy arising from a so-far unexplained “accounting change”.

The changes should not be taken, however, as an indication that ministerial proclamations of a “clampdown” on senior pay in the academies sector are bearing fruit at scale.

For Education Uncovered, having scanned more than 10 sets of academy accounts for 2018-19, has yet to see any trusts where the number of people paid beyond £150k , and beyond £100k - the levels at which ministers have been writing to trusts to warn about the need for pay restraint – has fallen.