Commenting on Equal Pay Day*, Thursday 18 November 2021, NAHT,
WomenEd, ASCL and NGA discuss findings from a forthcoming joint
report** which reveals that, regardless of school phase or
structure, men are typically still earning more than women – and
the more senior the position, the wider the gap becomes.
In primary schools, for example, the gap between men and women’s
average pay has increased over the last decade by almost a
thousand pounds, from £1,878 in 2010/11 to £2,834 in 2020/21.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union
NAHT, said: “We’ve seen school leadership pay eroded for
everyone over the last decade, but it seems that for our female
school leaders there has been a ‘double hit.’ Our forthcoming
report is intended to continue this much needed conversation,
helping to empower our members and female leaders everywhere, and
use our platform to press for the changes in the system that are
sorely needed.”
Vivienne Porritt, Co-founder and Global Strategic Leader,
WomenEd, said: “In WomenEd we hear of many examples
where women are paid less than men for the same role and with the
same or greater experience. Our forthcoming report shows that
such inequality is more significant than women realise. We want
women to know that they have a right to talk about pay and to
challenge any pay inequality so that, collectively, and in
collaboration with other sector organisations, we can make a
difference for all women leaders and educators.”
Rachael Warwick, ASCL Past President, said:
“ASCL has put its work on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
front and centre over the last three years. We’re all familiar
with the oft quoted and stubbornly static statistics regarding
the lower numbers of women leaders in our schools and colleges,
particularly those with protected characteristics and the
compelling arguments for the need for change. Not only is this a
moral imperative but we know that more diverse groups make better
decisions, bringing a myriad of perspectives to the table and
avoiding ‘the warm glow of homophily’ which Matthew Syed
articulates so convincingly in his book, ‘Rebel Ideas’. As a
leadership organisation, ASCL has a responsibility, and the
influence amongst our 21,000 members, to make a positive
difference. We need female leaders to represent the
profession. We will support our membership to take these
much-needed steps.”
Emma Knights OBE, Chief Executive, National Governance
Association, said:“Governing boards determine the
organisation’s pay policy and have a very specific role in
setting the pay of the most senior leader. Employers need to
ensure themselves that all staff are treated fairly, equitably,
and lawfully. We need to encourage and reward all the talent
within schools and trusts. It is through developing our staff
that we will provide the best possible education for pupils. The
National Governance Association is committed to ensuring boards
have all the information they need to do this well without a
gender penalty. Governing boards are in prime position to effect
change by ensuring a healthy organisational culture which is open
to giving equalities, diversity, and inclusion active and
on-going consideration.”
Notes to editors:
* Equal Pay Day is a national campaign led by the Fawcett Society
in the UK. It marks the day in the year where women effectively,
on average, stop earning relative to men because of the gender
pay gap.
** The joint report from NAHT, WomenEd, ASCL and NGA: ‘Closing
the gender pay gap in education: a leadership imperative’, will
be released at the end of November.
