Trusts asked to justify salaries

Two academy trusts that run schools in the Bath area have been asked to justify high salaries paid last year. Wellsway Multi Academy Trust and the Cabot Learning Federation are among 53 trusts that have received letters from the Department for Education asking them to explain salaries above £100,000 or £150,000. The letter told them they were “one of a very small number of trusts” that had paid £150,000 or more to at least one person, or between £100,000 and £150,000 to two or more people in 2016/17. The Cabot Learning Federation is responsible for Bath Community Academy, formerly Culverhay, which is set to close its doors for good on July 24. Wellsway MAT, which runs 10 schools in the area, was recently forced to defend itself against accusations that it uses “appalling” premises to teach some of Bath’s most vulnerable children. Three of the four secondary schools it runs in or near Bath and Keynsham are rated “requires improvement” by Ofsted. The letters demanding an explanation for the high salaries paid last year were sent to the chair of trustees of both academy trusts on July 5. They must respond by tomorrow (Friday). The letter states: “You should have a clear process and rationale for the salaries set, including for all of your non-teaching staff posts.” It further notes that while recognising the “excellent work carried out by many trusts to deliver high quality education, trusts have a responsibilty to ensure value for money and that salary and other remuneration payments are transparent, proportionate, reasonable and justifiable”. The trusts have been contacted for comment.