Heads are worth every penny that they are paid

Published: 23 June, 2011

• CHRISTIAN Bishop blames highly paid headteachers and senior teachers for the redundancies affecting school staff in Camden (Cut the pay of senior teachers and heads, June 16). 

He calls for “a higher authority to take this situation in hand”. 

Well, such a higher authority already exists in every school – it’s called the governing body. Headteachers do not set their own pay. Governing bodies are required to set headteachers’ pay on the basis of a thorough process of performance management.

There are some 900 school governors in Camden’s schools; one of their most important responsibilities is to select and appoint headteachers, manage their performance and set their pay.

Headteachers have a very demanding job; most of them work extremely hard. They play an enormous role in their pupils’ education. Most governors are aware how difficult it is to hire a good headteacher. And that is the reason why headteachers are able to command a relatively high salary.

Headteachers deserve all the money they get. So do most people who work in schools.

The cuts to education are not to be blamed on headteachers, Mr Bishop. The cuts are due to the economic policies of the current government.

LUCA SALICE
Chairman, Camden 
Chairs & Governors, NW5