Almost two-thirds of school bursars and business managers believe their pay is too low for the responsibility they carry, according to a survey by the National Association of Head Teachers.
Six out of ten (62.7%) think salaries for the post should be set nationally.
Although the vast majority of respondents (83%) are members of their school leadership teams, 62.5% believe their pay scales do not reflect their skill set or seniority.
Salary levels of the respondents range widely, from £17,000 to £79,000, according to the survey, which covered 330 bursars working across the UK. More than half (58%) of the respondents have no pay protection, which guarantees salaries will not fall in any regrading. A quarter do not have all-year round contracts.
NAHT general secretary Russell Hobby said local authority cuts meant schools were increasingly relying on their bursars and business managers to provide advice on the services they need to keep running smoothly.
‘SBMs are finding themselves with more and more responsibility for the school’s practical operations and for making pivotal decisions at the most senior levels. Yet too often, they are not remunerated in a way that reflects their significance. Nor do they always have the sort of job security that usually accompanies a role which may require a long-term commitment.
‘Modern school life is increasingly dependent on the contribution that effective business managers can make – not least of which is freeing pedagogical leaders to focus on learning – and the efficient management of a school is therefore closely linked to its educational standards.’
Hobby said clear guidelines on pay and conditions would help ‘shore up’ the role and reflect the value bursars and business managers bring to schools.
