How to set and review CEO pay

Learn how to run a fair, compliant and evidence-based process to be confident that your chief executive officer's pay level is appropriate and justified.

Last reviewed on 18 August 2025
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Contents
  1. The trust board is accountable
  2. How to set CEO pay
  3. How to review CEO pay
  4. Publication of pay

The trust board is accountable

The trust board has ultimate responsibility for setting and reviewing CEO pay.

You should be able to justify how the CEO's salary represents good value for money in relation to trust performance, size and complexity. 

It's typical for a remuneration committee (a sub-committee of the trust board) to lead the process, reporting back to the full board for approval. 

You'll need to comply with statutory requirements

The Academy Trust Handbook (ATH) sets out a number of expectations.

Follow a robust evidence-based process Make sure there are detailed minutes of all meetings – you’ll want to demonstrate you’ve provided enough challenge Make sure you have clear documentation of the process you've followed. Get more help with this in our articles on using GovernorHub to demonstrate great governance and evidencing good trust governance Are a reasonable and defensible reflection