Academy trust criticised over CEO's pay rise

The Advance Learning Partnership oversees 22 primary and secondary academies in County Durham and Darlington

An MP has criticised a local academy trust for giving its top boss a pay rise while reportedly making four teaching assistants redundant.

Bishop Auckland's Sam Rushworth said he was "deeply concerned" by the Advance Learning Partnership's decision to boost chief executive officer Kelvin Simpson's salary, which he said was now £275,000.

Speaking during a House of Commons debate on funding for schools, Labour's Rushworth said the teaching assistants had lost their jobs at Howden-le-Wear Primary School.

The Advance Learning Partnership, which oversees 22 primary and secondary academies across County Durham and Darlington, has been contacted for comment by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"I am deeply concerned about the funding of Howden-le-Wear Primary School in my constituency," Rushworth told fellow MPs.

"After years of real-terms cuts, it is now making four teaching assistants redundant.

"I will write to the minister on that to seek her support, but the elephant in the room is that the pay of the chief executive of the multi-academy trust of which it is a member has increased £30,000 over the last two years, taking it to £275,000."

Sam Rushworth MP was speaking during a debate on funding for schools

Rushworth suggested recruiting more teaching assistants should be prioritised over improving salaries.

He added: "That is the equivalent of 12 teaching assistants. Which does she think would be better: one CEO or 12 teaching assistants?"

Responding to the concerns, Education Minister Catherine McKinnell said: "Executive pay must be justifiable and must reflect the responsibility an individual takes on, alongside local retention and recruitment needs.

"We engage with trusts on levels of executive pay, and I would be more than happy to discuss the matter further."

Information from the trust's latest financial accounts shows Mr Simpson was paid £245,382 in the year ending August 2024, an increase of £41,738 on the previous year.