Number of private school tutors paid more than £100,000-a-year soars by 25 per cent in two years

Number of private school tutors paid more than £100,000-a-year soars by 25 per cent in two years sparking fears of brain drain from state system

  • New research shows number of staff on six figures has risen by 25% since 2019
  • Sunday Times Private School pay list features 200 private schools and salaries
  • Eton College topped list for the most number of staff on at least £100k with 47
  • Highest paid staff member worked at St Paul’s School in west London on £339k

The number of private school teachers being paid £100,000 or more has surged, new research has revealed.

According to the Sunday Times Private School pay list, a total of 470 staff at private schools across the country were paid at least £100,00 in 2019-2020. 

This marks a 25 per cent increase in a two-year period with the highest paid member of staff receiving £339,000 at St Paul’s School, in west London

Boris Johnson‘s former school Eton College topped the list for the most number of staff members on six figures, with 47 while Harrow employs 16 and Brighton College employs 12 – more than double the number at the school two years ago, according to the Times.

Meanwhile, the newspaper revealed in the same period the lowest-paid teachers’ earnings rose by no more than 5.6 per cent. 

The Sunday Times said that all 200 institutions in its Private School Pay List are classed as charities.

The number of salaries exceeding £100,000 at private schools has increased by 25% in the last two years. Pictured: Eton College had the highest number of staff on at least £100k with 47

Highest paid member of staff on the list received £339,000 at St Paul's School, in west London

Highest paid member of staff on the list received £339,000 at St Paul’s School, in west London

This exempts their fees from VAT and allows discounts on business rates as well as corporation tax relief on profits.

The revelations have sparked fears that the country’s best state school teachers will be drawn into the private sector. 

Francis Green, professor of work and education economics at University College London’s Institute of Education, said his research showed 2,600 teachers had moved from state schools to private schools in 2018.

He said this means private school get experienced and qualified teachers instead of ‘rookie teachers’. 

He told the Times: ‘Private school head teachers should not be paid more than state school heads.

‘They have bursars to manage a lot of the job a head would tackle in the state sector.’ 

He added: ‘Private school head teachers should not be paid more than state school heads.’  

Critics have slammed the news with former Chief Inspector of Schools Sir Michael Wilshaw saying the salaries were ‘sucking in more of our state school teachers’ to the detriment of pupils.

All 200 private schools on the list are registered charities. Pictured Brighton College which has 12 members of staff on at least £100,000 - more than double the amount two years ago

All 200 private schools on the list are registered charities. Pictured Brighton College which has 12 members of staff on at least £100,000 – more than double the amount two years ago

However, Neil Roskilly, vice-president of the Independent Schools Association, said the list was not representative of the sector and said ‘most heads can only dream of these salaries in a few elite schools’.

He said other factors such as behaviour could also contribute to teachers moving from the state to private sector.

He added that it was important for charity schools to be transparent but said there were ‘thousands of private schools paying staff less than the state sector’. 

It comes as Education Secretary Gavin Williamson warned of a pay freeze in the public sector as the country continues to deal with the economic fallout of the pandemic.

Some critics have said the revelations mean private schools will be able to draw the best teachers away from state schools. Pictured: Harrow School had 16 staff on at least £100k

Some critics have said the revelations mean private schools will be able to draw the best teachers away from state schools. Pictured: Harrow School had 16 staff on at least £100k

He told Sky News: ‘Well, we have already, we saw this year the largest pay increase for teachers since 2005 but there is going to be pay restraint, there is going to be a pay freeze for the coming year but we are continuing to invest in schools.

‘We are continuing to invest in schools right across the country making sure that some of the lowest funded schools get extra increases and this gives schools the resources in order to be able to support children as they go back to school.

‘But we are, as you know, facing a tough economic time and that’s why this year, the coming year, there will be a pay freeze but for this year that we’re entering into, teachers will see the largest increase since 2005.’