London - Head teachers could see their salaries capped after a union study showed that some of them in London are earning more than the prime minister.
Research by the GMB union highlighted the case of Mark Elms, a head teacher in a primary school in south London, who it said had a total pay package of £276 523 in 2009/10, including employers' pension contributions.
"It is outrageous that a Head Teacher in a local community school should earn more money than the Prime Minister," said Ted Purcell, GMB Public Services Officer.
The GMB listed several heads it said were on packages worth more than £150 000. Prime Minister David Cameron announced his salary was being cut by five percent to £142 500 shortly after he took office in May.
The prime minister's spokesman said that people would be surprised at some of the figures.
"There is already a process under way whereby the secretary of state is consulting with the schoolteachers' review body on a number of pay issues including a proposal to cap head teachers' pay," the spokesman said.
"There is a general view which is that the country is currently living beyond its means and we need to do something about that. Part of the answer is to look very hard at what people are paid in the public sector," he added.
In the case of Elms, Lewisham Council said his back salary for the year was just over £82 000, but he received more than £100 000 last year for work done helping neighbouring schools under a government programme known as City Challenge.
"Governing bodies are responsible for setting headteachers' pay in line with the national guidelines in the Schoolteachers' Pay and Conditions Document," a council spokesman said.
"The local authority has investigated the high pay levels set by this governing body and issued them with formal, confidential advice which they are now considering," he added. - Reuters