Listen to this story Members can listen to an AI-generated audio version of this article. 1.0x Audio narration uses an AI-generated voice. 0:00 0:00 Become a member to listen to this article Subscribe The number of colleges paying £200,000 or more for their chief executives grew by more than a third last year, with the total nearing 100, FE Week analysis shows. Three leaders now sit in the £300,000 club – one more than the previous year. FE Week’s annual investigation of college boss pay packages shows a relatively equal gender split among the highest-paid leaders, rising numbers of performance-related bonuses, and one six-figure severance payout for the principal of a college that almost went insolvent. Become a member for unlimited access to FE Week subscribe Our members enjoy early access to exclusive content and in-depth articles before anyone else. Get expert journalism on FE and skills, experience fewer ads, and unlock a growing range of member benefits.
Helen C 5 June 2026 I don’t know how they can justify such high salaries when the teaching staff are paid a pittance
CW 10 June 2026 It isn’t just curriculum staff who work in FE who are underpaid. The salary at the top of an organisation should be tied to the salary at the bottom of an organisation. If the person at the top gets a 10% pay rise, no problem. Everyone else in the organisation should also gets a 10% pay rise. This would instantly prevent fat cats from getting too chonky.
John Palfreyman 6 June 2026 I go back to 1994 when Colleges were wrenched under the Tories from Local Authority control to become corporations. Immediately BMW’s filled senior staff car parks and salaries doubled or trebbled…..and the silver book contracts were torn up for lecturing staff. Don’t tell me this has been good for the sector
John Rothwell 6 June 2026 You hit the nail on the head ! Silver book contracts ripped up and educational standards slid down !
Tony Withe 8 June 2026 80% of the funding for 16 plus goes to 16-20 year olds with the 21 to 67 year olds receiving only 20%. That has to be redressed. You have large colleges in Birmingham where the Principal has his partner working with as his PA. Its a joke money needs to be spent in the areas of high unemployment not for the pockets of the Principals should be capped.