Private school headteacher salaries - pure greed?

[Gruffalowings]

The Times reports that the Head of Eton is getting a 41.5% pay increase to £370 000.

Why?

The Head of the Civil Service only gets £200 000.

I don’t know how many private school headteachers are on more than the prime minister (£167 000), but it’s quite a few these days; at the same time as fees going up, pensions being removed and teachers experiencing below-inflation pay awards.

For all the anger around VAT on fees, I don’t see parents begrudging headteachers these extraordinary salaries.

AIBU to think that what private school headteachers are paid speaks to nothing more than pure greed in these individuals?

You can use that argument about any organisation. NHS heads are on multiples of a nurse’s salary for example.

They might well have free housing if it's a boarding school, too.

It's difficult to compare somewhere like Eton with a small local dayschool, I think. It's a bit like saying the corner shop is directly comparable with JP Morgan. They are both private sector... but that's it.

I've a friend who works in a top boarding school (not Eton; he rejected them - and also not a HT salary, but certainly comfortable,) and he gets very little free time in term time - he does earn his money. They do in state schools, too, but for the most part, they won't have weekend or night duties. And as people say, it's market forces. People are prepared to pay £45k+ a year to send their children to schools like this, so it would be weird if the teachers weren't paid more than average.

Are you offended by other heads of companies' salaries or just in the Education sector?

Genevive24 · Today 15:09
I completely agree with you OP. Salaries of that kind are immoral in my opinion, it is ridiculous that the leader of a school should earn double the leader of the whole country.

@Genevive24 what’s your view on university Vice-Chancellors’ wages?

Totally agree with this! I doubt those on 10x the average salary are actually working 10x harder than ordinary workers.

I agree. I think many underestimate how hard staff in many private schools work, especially boarding schools. During term time they get very little downtime.

They are private businesses operating in a free market. They can pay their staff whatever they want.
They therefore absolutely should not be getting tax breaks under the guise of "charitable status".
This vindicates Labour's policy perfectly.

Salary is never about how hard someone works. It's about how valuable they are to the organisation they are, and for a role like this, that will be a mixture of their education, experience, results and reputation.

Private school parent here (x 3)

Absolutely don’t begrudge the VAT (although I do think it could have been gradually applied to minimise impact on the children of those who were on the edge of affordability) - I believe that my children are getting an absolutely magic education - I think that every child should have access to that - and if the VAT rise is going to do that it’s a good thing.

Do I think that somehow, because of the VAT rise the management at our children’s schools should get a pay cut to offset the impact on the parents? Over 750 parents - that isn’t going to make any meaningful difference.

Do I think these hard working experts-in-their-fields who are stewarding educational institutions through a period of flux should somehow have their salaries pegged to civil servants…? Why?!

I just can’t understand the rational behind this outrage!

The VAT exemption has nothing to do with charitable status. Half of private schools aren’t charities.

They are exempt from VAT in the same way as universities, private nurseries, and private healthcare (who are also free to pay their staff as they wish).

Does it matter? Parents may be incredibly happy with the teachers and their salaries, the VAT is a separate issue - the school doesn’t keep that money and use it on salaries.

The head of Eton College has 4 DCs and not all boys so he will have to pay school fees out of his salary. If it were co-ed he would not need such a big salary. He was paid less than a lot of Academy heads in the past.

Heads of boarding schools have far more responsibility than heads of day schools so they should be paid more. The head of Highgate gets more?

Many, many salaries are benchmarked. It’s common practice. The entire NHS salary system is based on it.

Even if they are charities (not all are), charities pay their CEOs often 6 figure salaries. It’s what it takes to get the best people. They know their worth.

Agree it's a uniquely British thing to hate on the concept of capitalism and anyone doing well and how they should be punished for it and know their place.

It's also a total load of bullshit.

YABU. You've obviously got an axe to grind OP but I don't think you've made a valid point. These individuals are running huge organisations with very large workforces and large estates with valuable assets, not to mention being ultimately responsible for the welfare and education of over 1000 young people (in Etons case). They're also managing very large budgets and complex balance sheets. The salary seems to me to be absolutely commensurate and in any case, is set by a board, consisting of a large number of governors, with wide ranging life experience. Anyone can apply. Why does it make them greedy?! Very odd viewpoint.

In other news on Eton College we were listening to Classic FM this morning and one of their pupils, an extraordinary pianist, has just won BBC Young Musician of the Year. He is called Ryan Wang and is quite phenomenal. Well worth a listen and watch.

As regards private schools - it seems only parents on very top salaries or with big inheritances/wealth can now afford private school. Maybe the governors feel they won’t respect a head on a low ish salary?

As regards the PM of the UK, they always end up making millions and millions after office so I don’t think we need to feel sorry for them. Especially not given all the perks they happily use as well, across the political spectrum.

Presumably a lot of Eton teachers also get free accommodation and food as the school is huge. Is that greedy too?

Why do you begrudge people high salaries? I don’t understand how strangers or those with no knowledge of what certain jobs involve constantly criticize “ridiculous” pay. Do you really think anyone appointed to this level started off earning that kind of salary? It takes years and years of experience and a lot of nerves to get there. The stress levels at this stage are through the roof, and it's laughable if anyone thinks otherwise.
If you knew what people in financial services earn, particularly decision-makers and "material risk takers," I think you’d have gone into meltdown.

The highest paid academy school leader is Sir Dan Moynihan of the Harris Academy chain. He is paid £485,000 a year apparently. These is a state funded chain of academies. There are others on huge salaries also and lots of levels of leadership in these academies with large salaries attached. Many of these people are not teachers.
Given how much money is lacking in the state system, shouldn't the real question be why is so much of it being paid to non teaching chief executives and admin people? Who is monitoring these academies? Who do they answer to?

Can you link the original source please?

They are the two sides of the same coin, and I refuse to accept it.

@Genevive24 how will your refusal to accept it manifest itself?
There’s a man called Ian Bone who used to march around the streets of Eton (claiming to be trespassing in the school’s private property but in fact
on public roads) holding banners and shouting ‘class war is the only war’.
Maybe you could join him next time he ventures out in one of his protests.

I think train drivers are massively overpaid for what they do? Cannot do anything about it though. Why are you so concerned.

Just look at the salaries of certain Vice Chancellors of universities. That will really upset you....

Quite. I'm more worried about academy chains and the appalling state of state education. Layers of management siphoning off the money while schools can't get or pay for good subject teachers and can't afford any enrichment activities or basic resources, and some schools are actually crumbling around pupils ears.

Exactly the same. I don’t have a problem with head-teachers, I have a problem with bloated salaries that pay somebody more than they could possibly need. I think that 4-5 times the average should surely be enough incentive for anyone in even the most skilled, specialist or responsible jobs.