Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that there is parity of pay between (1) teaching, and (2) non-teaching, staff working in different schools operated by the same multi-academy trust.

Academy trusts are free to set their own salaries, but these must reflect the complexity and size of the task and we expect these to be justifiable. Academy trusts are not obliged to follow the terms set out in the School Teacher Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD), but must offer access to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or local government pension scheme as applicable. Some academy trusts have chosen to follow the terms of the STPCD in relation to teachers and local government employee designation for non-teaching staff.

Flexibility on pay enables academy trusts to reflect local circumstances and their recruitment and retention needs in their pay policies. Nevertheless, this must demonstrate value for money, and academy trusts must scrutinise all expenditure as a matter of course to ensure that money is spent wisely and decisions adhere to a robust evidence-based process.