The pay received by the chief executive of the largest primary academy chain in the country increased by at least 33 per cent compared to the previous year, new accounts show.

Sir Steve Lancashire, the CEO of Reach2 - which runs 55 primary schools across the country - received remuneration of £240-250,000 in 2016-17, according to the trust’s annual accounts for the year to 31 August 2017. The previous year he earned £170-180,000.

According to the accounts, Sir Steve’s remuneration in 2016-17 was a “full-time salary”, whereas his pay in 2015-16 was for four days per week.

The 2016-17 remuneration also included a “one-off performance related pay element relating to the prior year, but received in 2016-17”, the accounts state. 

While it is not possible to calculate exactly how much Sir Steve’s pay increased because his remuneration was reported within a band in both years, at a minimum it represents a 33 per cent increase on what he received in 2015-16, and at maximum a 47 per cent increase.

The accounts also appear to suggest that Sir Steve earned more than the Reach2‘s own rule that the highest paid role should not receive 10 times that of a newly qualified teacher.

“When considering and setting salary levels across the trust a clear set of principles were identified to ensure transparency,” the accounts state. “In order to ensure fairness and equity throughout the organisation, it was proposed that job roles should be banded relative to the average newly qualified teachers starting salary.

“The highest- paid role will not exceed 10 times that of a newly qualified teacher.

“In the academic year 2016-17, the average annual salary of a newly qualified teacher across the trust was £23,547.”

But the MAT argues that Sir Steve has not breached the limit because his package included performance pay.

In the previous year, Reach2 stipulated a smaller ratio for the pay differential between the highest paid role and NQTs: “The highest paid role, considering the infancy of the trust, will not exceed seven times that of a newly qualified teacher,” the 2015-16 accounts state.

A Reach2 spokesperson said: “Sir Steve’s total remuneration has increased by 4.5 per cent on a like for like basis.”

Overall, the total employee benefits received by Reach2‘s key management personnel rose from £647,828 in 2015-16 to £719,651 in 2016-17.

The latest accounts also state that Reach2 plans to expand to 65 academies by September this year. 

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