Leadership Pay Ranges
An introduction
Introduction
This document is intended as a short introduction to determining the
leadership pay ranges in schools. Further details can be found in the School
Teachers Pay and conditions document, which remains the definitive
document on the subject as such matters, are regulated under statute.
Extracts from relevant table are included below.
It explains the options available to schools to recruit, reward and retain staff
on the leadership scale, (Assistant Headteachers, Deputy Headteachers and
Headteachers).
The limitations that apply are also explained. The highest earning classroom
teacher sets the “floor” of the leadership pay. The ceiling is set by group size
of the school. There also limits to the differentials between Assistant
Headteachers, Deputy Headteachers and Headteachers, These are shown in
detail below.
Undertaking a review
The grades of the three levels of staff can be dependent on each other and it
recommended that they are all reviewed together. Support for this can be
provide by the school’s HR advisor who can assist in the detailed calculation
of the ranges.
The information that you will need is in such a review is :




The school’s group size
The headteacher’s ISR (Individual Salary Range)
Current salary levels and salary range
Salary of highest paid classroom teacher (This is defined as value of
point 1 on the upper pay scale plus the teacher with the highest sum of
allowance (TLR and SEN). This is notional amount and does not affect
the salary entitlement of such a teacher)
(The Headteachers group is determined according to formula set out in the
Pay and Conditions document. The group size of school is determined
according a weighted total of pupils attending the school. The group size then
determines the minimum and maximum pay ranges. The relevant tables are
shown below)
Assistant Headteachers
Range:- 5 consecutive points
Lower Limit –
1. Not less than the next leadership group pay spine point
above the salary of the highest paid classroom teacher
Upper limit

Not equal or exceed the schools ISR

The maximum of the deputy headteacher pay range of the
lowest paid deputy headteacher

Where there is insufficient to accommodate the five point
range and, where applicable also the salary of a deputy, the
ISR is increased to accommodate the assistant headteacher
pay range. But the governors cannot determine a range so
high level that that they are required to increase the ISR is
beyond the maximum of the headteacher group range
Deputy Headteachers
Range:- 5 consecutive points
Lower Limit –

Not less than the next leadership group pay spine point
above the salary of the highest paid classroom teacher

Not less than the minimum of the assistant Headteachers
pay range of the highest paid assistant headteacher

Not equal or exceed the schools ISR

The maximum of the deputy headteacher pay range of the
lowest paid deputy headteacher

Where there is insufficient to accommodate the five point
range under 1 and 2 and, where applicable the salary of a
deputy, the ISR is increased to accommodate the Deputy
headteacher pay range. But the governors cannot determine
a range so high level that that they are required to increase
the ISR is beyond the maximum of the headteacher group
range.
Upper limit
Headteachers
Range:- 7 consecutive points ISR
Lower Limit –

Not less than the next leadership group pay spine point
above the salary of the highest paid classroom teacher

The minimum of the ISR shall not be less than minimum of
the range specified in Headteachers group range

Not less than the point higher on the leadership group scale
than the maximum of the pay range of any deputy or
assistant headteacher at the school

Where the governing body is required to increase the ISR to
accommodate the Assistant/Deputy headteacher pay range
or the highest paid classroom teacher they cannot determine
a range at higher than a level that is required to produce a
minimum point on the ISR one point above such a salary

Where the school is a school causing concern or the
governors consider the school would have substantial
difficulties recruiting or retaining a headteacher the
governors may determine and ISR that exceeds the
headteacher group range. This shall not exceed the
maximum of the second headteacher group range above the
appropriate headteacher group range
Upper Limit
The pay spine for members of the leadership group isSpine Point
Annual Salary
Outer London
Area
£
L1
37,710
L2
38,586
L3
39,477
L4
40,398
L5
41,334
L6
42,297
L7
43,365
L8
44,301
L9
45,336
L10
46,431
L11
47,559
L12
48,597
L13
49,743
L14
50,907
L15
52,107
L16
53,421
L17
54,585
L18
55,890
L19
57,207
L20
58,557
L21
59,937
L22
61,353
L23
62,805
L24
64,293
L25
65,823
L26
67,383
L27
68,982
L28
70,626
L29
72,306
L30
74,037
L31
75,801
L32
77,613
L33
79,476
L34
81,372
L35
83,322
L36
85,314
L37
87,372
L38
89,463
L39
91,575
L40
93,795
L41
96,069
L42
98,400
L43
100,794
The head teacher groups, and pay ranges are as followsGroup
Range of
Spine
Points
Annual Salary
Range Outer
London Area
£
1
L6 - L18
42,297 55,890
2
L8 - L21
44,301 59,937
3
L11 - L24
47,559 64,293
4
L14 - L27
50,907 68,982
5
L18 - L31
55,890 75,801
6
L21 - L35
59,937 83,322
7
L24 - L39
64,293 91,575
8
L28 - L43
70,626 100,794
Unit totals and head teacher groups - ordinary schools
Total unit
score
School
group
Up to 1,000
1,001 to 2,200
2,201 to 3,500
3,501 to 5,000
5,001 to 7,500
7,501 to 11,000
11,001 to 17,000
17,001 and over
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
The total unit score shall be determined in accordance with the
number of pupils on the school register calculated as followsKey Stage Units per pupil
For each pupil at the foundation stage and each pupil at the first or
second key stage
7 units
For each pupil at the third key stage
9 units
For each pupil at the fourth key stage
11 units
For each pupil at the fifth key stage
13 units
Each pupil with a statement of special educational needs shall, if
he is in a special class consisting wholly or mainly of such pupils,
count three units more than he would otherwise count by virtue of
paragraph above, and if he is not in such a special class count
three such units only where the relevant body so determine;