First multi-academy trust rich list finds clear evidence of link between performance and pay

Embargoed: 22:30  Sunday, 9th March 2025

• Over 750 heads of multi-academy trusts (MATs) received over £100,000 in total remuneration in 2022/23
  
  
• The ten highest-paid MAT heads managed a total of 290 schools, with 264 rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted.
  
  
• The highest-paid CEO, Sir Dan Moynihan of the Harris Federation, earned in total remuneration £565,000, overseeing 52 schools, of which 49 are rated good or outstanding.
  
  
• First MAT rich list published by TaxPayers’ Alliance finds clear evidence of link  between performance and pay
  

As part of our long-standing tradition of investigating and revealing the remuneration of senior public sector employees, the TaxPayers’ Alliance has compiled its first ever multi academy trust rich list. However, unlike other rich lists produced by the group, the review of multi-academy trusts has found clear evidence of a link between performance and pay. While the TPA remains firmly of the view that the details of all taxpayer-funded remuneration packages should be scrutinised, in the case of multi-academy trusts there is reason to believe that many of these pay packets are justified.

The research reveals that there are 290 schools managed by the ten highest remunerated multi-academy trust heads, with 264 rated outstanding or good by Ofsted. Many of the schools run by these bodies were formerly local authority run schools which had been in special measures. The Harris Federation highlights that “The majority of our academies originally joined our Federation having been placed in Special Measures, yet today 70% are Outstanding.”

Multi-academy trust leaders are responsible for overseeing thousands of staff and students, ensuring strong academic performance, and managing large, multi-million-pound budgets. There were over 757 heads of multi-academy trusts who received over £100,000 or more in total remuneration in 2022/23. The highest total remuneration was received by Sir Dan Moynihan, the chief executive of the Harris Federation. Sir Daniel earned £565,000 in 2022-23 while heading up 52 schools, of which 49 are rated outstanding/good and 3 are unrated. He oversees 40,649 pupils, making the cost per pupil of his remuneration £13.90. This is also equivalent to £10,865 for each school, per year. 

The average total remuneration of the 757 in 2022-23 was £156,491. In comparison, in 2022/23, the maximum that a headteacher of a single local authority maintained school could be paid was £123,057, with this figure only including salary, meaning the total remuneration package would be considerably higher. This shows that high pay is not limited to academies, with often poorly performing local authority-maintained schools also boasting significant remuneration packages for senior staff. 

These findings come amidst a debate around the education bill currently progressing through Parliament, which, if passed, could limit academy freedoms. Academies were first introduced under the last Labour government "to improve pupil performance and break the cycle of low expectations". But under proposals from this Labour government these schools will be brought in line with the regulations that local-authority maintained schools have to adhere to, such as the requirement for new teachers to have qualified teacher status.  

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL RESEARCH 

Key findings:

• At least 757 heads of multi-academy trusts received £100,000 or more in total remuneration in 2022-23, totalling at least £118,463,335. Among these, the average total remuneration was £156,491.
• The trust head who received the largest total remuneration in 2022-23 was Dan Moynihan, chief executive of the Harris Federation. This contained 52 schools and held 40,649 pupils. Dan Moynihan received total remuneration of £565,000 including a salary of £487,500 and a pension contribution of £77,500 in 2022-23.
• On a per pupil basis, Dan Moynihan received £13.90 in remuneration for each pupil within the Harris Federation, in 2022-23. On a per school basis, he received £10,865 for each associated school within the Harris Federation in 2022-23.
• Out of 52 schools in the Harris Federation in 2022-23, 33 are rated outstanding by Ofsted and a further 16 are rated good. No data was available for the remaining three.
• In 2022-23, Sunil Chotai, chief executive officer of Charles Darwin Academy Trust, received the highest pension contribution amounting to £177,500. The Charles Darwin Academy Trust had 1,736 pupils across two schools in 2022-23.
• In England, United Learning Trust had the largest pupil headcount of any multi-academy trust with 57,287 pupils in 2022-23. These pupils were spread across 79 schools, the most schools of any multi-academy trust. This trust did not provide any details in its accounts regarding the remuneration of its chief executive, Jon Coles.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL RESEARCH

Jonathan Eida, researcher of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:

"Critics love to attack academy leader pay, but the reality is that the schools they lead are delivering results for pupils.

“Multi-academy trust leaders oversee thousands of students, manage significant budgets, and have a proven track record of turning around struggling schools. Their strong performance in raising standards means many of these pay packets look justified.

“Public sector pay should always be scrutinised, but the government must recognise that these institutions are largely delivering for taxpayers and should step back from the current assault on their autonomy.” 

TPA spokespeople are available for live and pre-recorded broadcast interviews via 07795 084 113 (no texts)

Media contact:

Joanna Marchong
Investigations Campaign Manager, TaxPayers' Alliance
[email protected]
24-hour media hotline: 07795 084 113 (no texts)

Notes to editors:

1. Founded in 2004 by Matthew Elliott and Andrew Allum, the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) campaigns to reform taxes and public services, cut waste and speak up for British taxpayers. Find out more at www.taxpayersalliance.com.
   
   
2. TaxPayers' Alliance's research council.
   
   
3. Other rich lists published by the TPA include a university rich list, city hall rich list, and our annual town hall rich lists. In 2015 we published a comprehensive public sector rich list.