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Pay committee: approving the headteacher's pay

How do you know the pay recommendation is right, when you're usually reviewing it with only limited information? Here's what to look for, and what to do if you have concerns.

Last reviewed on 13 November 2024
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 5917
Contents
  1. What usually happens
  2. Check whether your school has performance-related pay
  3. Appraisal outcomes and confidentiality
  4. Define the remits of both committees
  5. Quality assurance is built into the appraisal system
  6. If the pay recommendation isn't what you were expecting

What usually happens

As a member of the pay committee, you receive a recommendation for the headteacher's pay at the end of their annual appraisal (for more on the full process, read our step-by-step guide to headteacher appraisal). 

You review the recommendation and, usually, approve it – it's normally pretty straightforward, as this isn't the point where you'd expect surprises.

But if the recommendation from the headteacher appraisal committee doesn't match what you expected, there are steps you can take to carry out your own due diligence.

Check whether your school has performance-related pay

The STPCD no longer requires schools to link pay progression to performance. Check your school's pay policy to see its approach and whether pay increases should be based on performance.

If