Recommendation 17

The number of academy trusts paying at least one individual above £150,000 increased to 473 trusts (17% of trusts) in 2019/20, from 340 trusts (12%) in 2018/19. Almost two- thirds of trusts (1,772; 64%) in 2019/20 reported paying at least one individual between £100,000 and £150,000, compared with just over half (1,535; 53%) in the prior year. The Department reported within the SARA that the actions resulting from its review of excessive pay in 2017/18 are expected to be realised in future years. Its review of executive pay based on 2018/19 data was delayed. The SARA reported that an approach based on 2019/20 data was under review with the aim of identifying outlier levels of leadership pay across similar academy trusts.41 We asked when the review of pay based on 2019/20 data would be complete. The Department explained that this was an area of continuous activity it wanted to keep a careful eye on pay within the academies sector, but that it did not have any formal review or publication planned as a follow up to the review in 2017/18, or in light of increasing levels of higher pay.42 The Department’s understanding of the academy estate