Local Headteacher earns more than PM, Kennet and Trinity head earns £175k a year Options

[Strafin]

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article...articleID=14018

I usually find it very easy to knock people and as most will know have no problems about complaining about what I think is wrong. The recent revelation of the primary school teacher in London earning £200k being one of those times. I now read that a local head is earning ridiculous amounts, but as I know him and indeed went to one of his schools, I found my reaction to be much less severe. I still think it's too much, and also another example of the public sector paying out over the odds again but somehow am slightly more accepting. I just wondered if anyone had any feelings one way or the other.

[Exhausted]

In the private sector, people move about in senior positions, gradually moving on until they either reach the level of their incompetence or score that top job. These people are scored on their skills and what they do for the company and are normally required to report to a board of directors, including, when they themselves reach board level. The board normally understands the business they are in to the nth degree so the cast offs get moved out fairly quickly.

Do we have an informed structure within the teaching industry and do we have the people at the top who make the appointments, sufficiently skilled in order to make these person judgements so that the whole level of teaching professional standards goes up. The answer is probably not and maybe there is a need to get the Mr D's of this world gradually moving further up the ladder so that we can have, for example, a UK el Supremo Head who deals with the teaching structure rather than a glut of council employees and civil servants setting targets and standards who have almost certainly never stood in front of an unruly class in their life.

The question was asked earlier about soldiers, sailors and airmen risking their lives for not much money. But, there is a chain of command and any serving person in todays armed forces could get the top job. How much does the first sea lord get per annum?? The same, in my opinion goes with any structure, do the job, learn the ropes and with a lot of ambition and a little luck the top job is there.

Don't expect top dollar for stacking the shelves.

[DrPepper]

In the private sector, people move about in senior positions, gradually moving on until they either reach the level of their incompetence or score that top job. These people are scored on their skills and what they do for the company and are normally required to report to a board of directors, including, when they themselves reach board level. The board normally understands the business they are in to the nth degree so the cast offs get moved out fairly quickly.

Do we have an informed structure within the teaching industry and do we have the people at the top who make the appointments, sufficiently skilled in order to make these person judgements so that the whole level of teaching professional standards goes up. The answer is probably not and maybe there is a need to get the Mr D's of this world gradually moving further up the ladder so that we can have, for example, a UK el Supremo Head who deals with the teaching structure rather than a glut of council employees and civil servants setting targets and standards who have almost certainly never stood in front of an unruly class in their life.

The question was asked earlier about soldiers, sailors and airmen risking their lives for not much money. But, there is a chain of command and any serving person in todays armed forces could get the top job. How much does the first sea lord get per annum?? The same, in my opinion goes with any structure, do the job, learn the ropes and with a lot of ambition and a little luck the top job is there.

Don't expect top dollar for stacking the shelves.

That is the problem, unqualified civil servants that make the appointments in the first place. Although don't the school governors have a say also? Although they are usually not qualified in any form as to regards the teaching profession either.

As exhausted says, what it needs is a private sector structure and management style, with the like of Mr D rising to the top to lead from experience. Or even the likes of Mr D having the position of "General Manager" and managing maybe all of West Berks schools in a position above the heads. This could then be repeated uk wide.

Again this is probably to simple, and would require little or no input from civil servants and politicians so stands no chance of ever happening

[user23]

That is the problem, unqualified civil servants that make the appointments in the first place. Although don't the school governors have a say also? Although they are usually not qualified in any form as to regards the teaching profession either.

As exhausted says, what it needs is a private sector structure and management style, with the like of Mr D rising to the top to lead from experience. Or even the likes of Mr D having the position of "General Manager" and managing maybe all of West Berks schools in a position above the heads. This could then be repeated uk wide.

Again this is probably to simple, and would require little or no input from civil servants and politicians so stands no chance of ever happening

Wasn't the guy who runs Education in West Berkshire, now in the position of "General Manager" formerly a headteacher?

As far as I'm aware civil servants don't make appointments, local authorities do and what you're saying stands no chance of ever happening is what actually happens now anyway.

[On the edge]

Wasn't the guy who runs Education in West Berkshire, now in the position of "General Manager" formerly a headteacher?

As far as I'm aware civil servants don't make appointments, local authorities do and what you're saying stands no chance of ever happening is what actually happens now anyway.

If this is the case - then we really do have a problem with our LEA. Clearly doesn't work.

[user23]

If this is the case - then we really do have a problem with our LEA. Clearly doesn't work.

But isn't this what happens across the whole country, experienced teaching staff taking positions at the LEA?

What's the problem with that?

[On the edge]

But isn't this what happens across the whole country, experienced teaching staff taking positions at the LEA?

What's the problem with that?

Don't think that is a problem - in fact it would help us. Here we appear to have an LEA that presides over a fair number of failing schools. One that seems to have a problem making the right head teacher appointments. Nevertheless, it does have a good head teacher and one with a national reputation. However, rather than seizing the opportunity and promoting the good head teacher to implement best practice across the district, it simply asks him to sort out a problem school - in addition to of his own workload! So in spite of what I see in the press, I don't think the problem is simply incompetent teachers; there are incompetent managers as well. The latter needing attention first; as that's where the leadership and direction should be coming. I certainly have no issue with the abilities of Mr D. - indeed, if he really can manage two full time jobs on his own, then he deserves the money. However, in reality can he? Equally, he can only going to bring some order to the troubled school ready for someone else to take over - well and good but that's back to square one!