DfE MAT CEO Salary Review: Common Myths and Mistakes About Academy Trust Chief Executive Pay

Understanding the DfE MAT CEO Salary Review

If you follow education news, you may have seen headlines about the DfE MAT CEO salary review and wondered what it means for academy trust leaders and teachers. The Department for Education’s November 2025 guidance reminds trust boards that executive pay decisions must be transparent, evidence-based, and able to withstand public scrutiny. This is not a salary cap, but a push for accountability.

Yet common myths persist. Some assume all MAT CEOs earn huge sums; others think the review will force pay cuts. The reality is more nuanced. Let’s separate fact from fiction using the latest official data.

What the DfE Guidance Actually Says

The DfE’s guidance applies to multi-academy trusts (MATs) in England. It does not set a maximum salary. Instead, it requires boards to:

• Publish their policy on executive pay.
• Justify any salary that is significantly above the headteacher pay range.
• Ensure decisions are linked to performance and trust outcomes.

This follows public concern about rising CEO pay while teachers face below-inflation rises. The School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) recommended 3.5% increases for teachers from September 2026, with minimum starting salaries over £34,000. The average teacher salary will be over £52,800 from that date, according to GOV.UK Get Into Teaching.

How Much Do MAT CEOs Actually Earn?

One of the biggest myths is that all MAT CEOs earn £300,000+. In reality, pay varies enormously by trust size. The Kreston UK Academies Benchmark Report 2026 found:

• Trusts with more than 7,500 pupils: average CEO salary £204,548.
• Trusts with 3,000–7,500 pupils: average £152,143.

Tes analysis of the largest 68 trusts (25+ schools) showed combined CEO pay of at least £13.6 million in 2024-25. Six CEOs saw rises of £30,000 or more. The highest known salary was Sir Hamid Patel of Star Academies at £299,220.

But these are averages and top-end examples. The national median for all chief executives (ONS ASHE 2025 provisional data) is £99,944 – far lower, because it includes CEOs of small businesses and charities. The simple average is £158,728, pulled up by very large packages.

Gross vs Take-Home: What a CEO Actually Receives

Gross salary is only half the story. At the median CEO salary of £99,944, monthly gross is about £8,329. After Income Tax and employee National Insurance (2026/27 rates, England/Wales), take-home is roughly £5,710 per month. That’s before any pension contributions (many CEOs are in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or a similar defined benefit scheme, with employer contributions of 28.6% for teachers) or student loan repayments.

For a MAT CEO on £204,548, monthly gross is about £17,046. Estimated take-home is around £10,400 per month – but this can drop significantly if they contribute to a pension or have a student loan. Scottish taxpayers face different Income Tax bands, which would reduce take-home further.

Common Myths and Mistakes

Myth 1: The DfE review caps CEO pay at headteacher levels. No. The guidance says pay should be “proportionate” and justifiable, but it does not set a hard cap. Headteacher salaries range from £60,619 to £148,829 (England excluding London) from September 2026. Some MAT CEOs earn more because they oversee multiple schools and have broader responsibilities.

Myth 2: All MAT CEOs earn over £200,000. Only the largest trusts pay that much. Many smaller trusts pay below £150,000. The ONS median for all chief executives is under £100,000.

Myth 3: CEO pay rises always outstrip teachers’. Tes found that one in four leaders at the largest trusts had a bigger proportional rise than teachers in 2024-25. But that means three in four did not. The picture is mixed.

Myth 4: Take-home pay is the same as gross salary. Tax and NI take a big bite. A CEO on £204,548 loses about £6,600 per month to tax and NI. Pension contributions can reduce take-home further but build retirement benefits.

How Teacher Pay Compares

For context, a classroom teacher in England (excluding London) starts at £34,069 from September 2026 and can reach £52,835. After five years, a typical teacher earns at least £46,960. Headteachers can earn up to £148,829.

The National Living Wage for age 21+ is £12.71/hour (from April 2026), giving a full-time annual gross of about £24,785 – less than a starting teacher.

What the DfE Review Means for You

If you are a teacher or school leader, the DfE MAT CEO salary review may affect how your trust allocates resources. Greater transparency could lead to more equitable pay structures. If you are a job seeker considering a CEO role in a MAT, understand that pay varies widely and is subject to public scrutiny.

For more on UK salaries and take-home pay, see our salary articles or use our take-home calculator to estimate your net income.

Key Takeaways

• The DfE MAT CEO salary review is about transparency, not a pay cap.
• Typical MAT CEO pay ranges from £152,000 to £204,000 depending on trust size.
• National median CEO pay (all sectors) is £99,944.
• Take-home pay is significantly lower than gross due to tax, NI, and pension.
• Teacher pay starts at £34,069 and averages over £52,800 from September 2026.

Always check official sources like and your payslip for accurate figures.