The University and College Union says it is “shocked” by figures which indicate ex-Barnfield Federation CEO Sir Peter Birkett was the highest paid further education principal in the country.
Records from the Skills Funding Agency show that Sir Peter was paid £228,000 in the 2012-13 academic year, as well as £17,000 ‘benefits in kind’ and a £32,000 pension contribution.
That basic pay was £20,000 more than Sir Peter was paid the previous year.
He has since been investigated by the SFA and Department for Education over “irregular and improper” spending at the federation.
A UCU spokesperson said: “(We are) shocked by these latest figures; it is particularly staggering that the now-ex-principal of Barnfield College should be revealed as the top-earning principal while pay for other staff has been held down.
“Staff remain concerned about job security and the overall financial position of the college even now, so it is quite galling to see that such incompetence in the past was so richly rewarded.”
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