To ask how much a head of department earns?

[Weallknowfrogsgo]

In a school just in case that wasn’t clear.

dm’s friends daughter just got a role as a head of department in Greater London. Fantastic.

Had one of those convos with dm, you know the kind when the relationship is fractious and toxic and every other comment is a dig lamenting how successful X was v me. I was going to go into teaching but changed my mind. Basis of the dig

i think I’m doing alright, mid 30s earning mid 50s. Out of idle curiosity how much does a head of department earn, google told me about 45k but DM was insistent she was earning around 100k because ‘that’s what head of department earn’

Nowhere near! I’m not in London but I’m a head of department (not core subject). I’m UPS3 so top of the pay scale and TLR is 2b (pretty standard for an 11-16 school). I earn 51,800. It would be more in London or in a really big 11-18 school, but definitely not 100k.

£100k is about average for a secondary head. The average for a secondary head in England was £95k last year, before the 6.5% pay rise in September. That would make the average for a secondary head now somewhere in the £100k region. In London it’s probably a little higher.

Regardless, a HOD is still on nowhere near that.

My mum tends to think that teachers are super high earning and shouldn’t I think of retraining to be a teacher: it would be a massive pay cut! But in fairness, I don’t think she thinks I have a proper job. Just sitting typing on a computer

HODS at local independent school to me earn around £80k and potentially can earn more depending on what extra curricular they choose to take on.

Wow 80k for HOD. Where are these jobs? Private schools near me don’t pay any more than state, less in some cases.

Private schools often pay less and many are in a financial mess at the moment

I'm a Head of Mathematics and earn £57000 in second year in the role - my pay scale goes up to a maximum of £63000.

I’m a second in Dept on 53k. Big London school could be 60-70 k.

It doesn’t bother me as such rather im wondering if I made a life error not teaching lol 😅

No, heads of department don't earn anything like £100k. More like half that. And did you make a life error not teaching? Maybe ask some of the 40,000 UK teachers who quit the profession last year.

Depends on the size of the school and department plus whether its in London or outside but it can be anything from 2k to 10k more than a standard teacher

My friend is a HoD and earns 60k

This is fantasy land.

Teachers with additional responsibilities warn no-where near that.

Yes. In a huge school with thousands of kids on roll.

It sounds like she is broadly in a similar pay level as you are Op

It sounds like a heck of a lot of actual work too. Dm is convinced they just work 9/3 but everything I’ve seen is teachers getting in at 7 and then doing work after school etc

I'm just taking a break from marking at the moment!

She should have a conversation with an actual teacher.

Geographically where are you?

because HoDs at prestigious London independents are on 55-75k (and the vast majority are in the first half of that range)

Dm is convinced they just work 9/3

Surely nobody actually still believes this?! Maybe ask your DM if she knows why there is a massive retention and recruitment crisis in teaching, if teachers get paid £100k and work 9-3!

Because they are greedy and lazy of course! (Her words not mine of course) whereas my role by contrast I barely do 9/5 in real terms (I definitely feel like the lazy one)

Bless!

You can't argue with stupid. I wouldn't even bother have a conversation with her. She's so utterly deluded about how the world of work actually operates.

She's presumably had a stellar career of her own? One that didn't require too many brain cells, perhaps? It's not difficult to see why your relationship is fractious and toxic with her.

If you wish to pm me then I will say but I so not want to say location publicly

Same just been appointed HOD UPS3 and TLR just under £52k

I have several HoD friends private and state school, the one on the most ( they were discussing it) was £60k - very experienced teacher - if she moves to deputy it’ll be about £80ish. The head of the whole school
is on just over £100 ish… and that a big state secondary.

Sounds like my mother in law who has told us now numerous times that her Nephew (DH's cousin) has just qualified as a secondary school History teacher and is on £80k. I was sure this couldn't possibly be the case but she is insistent that it's correct. Never taught before, first teaching job and not in London. Retrained in his early 40's