Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an estimate of how many multi-academy trusts currently offer executive salaries above £174,000.

Academy trusts report pay information through their annual accounts returns using £10,000 salary bandings. The latest available annual accounts return data for the 2024/25 academic year states that 276 academy trusts reported pay exceeding £170,000.

As set out in the 2026 academy trust handbook, from 1 October 2026, for new appointments within academy trusts where remuneration exceeds £174,000, or the pro rata equivalent for part-time staff, or performance-related pay above £25,000, approval from the department must be obtained before the post is advertised. The handbook is also clear that executive remuneration must not increase at a faster rate than that of the academy trust’s teachers.