Addressing the issue of inequitable pay for school business leaders

School business leaders are among the many education staff facing the immediate prospect of a below-inflation pay award which represents a real-terms salary cut. But some business leaders are also affected by the longer-term issue of inequitable pay, conditions and recognition compared to others in school leadership positions.

The Department for Education recently launched its School resource management: building a stronger system strategy, setting out details of its resource management and business leader-focused initiatives. The strategy includes some recognition of the vital role played by school business leaders, for example, incorporating a statement that sets an expectation for business knowledge to be at the centre of leadership decision-making. This is welcome, but should have gone further by setting an expectation for equitable pay and conditions.