200 London headteachers earn more than £100,000 a year

Almost 200 headteachers now earn six-figure salaries - a 70 per cent rise in just two years. Twelve of the highest earners are being paid more than £150,000 a year - and the true figure could be higher when the salaries paid in academies are taken into account.

London's "superheads" include Craig Tunstall, who has dramatically improved four failing schools in Lambeth and runs two children's centres. He defended their pay: "This is not for the fainthearted. I work damn hard."

Experts said the rise in the number of six-figure headteachers is partly due to increased competition from academy schools, which can pay staff what they like and attract top candidates.Many heads now run chains of schools, pushing up earnings further.

But the figures will trigger concern that hard-pressed local authorities are forced to pay over the odds, despite Education Secretary Michael Gove's call for "restraint" over the pay of school leaders last August.

Dinesh Ramjee, former head of Henry Compton school in Hammersmith and Fulham, received the highest overall remuneration of £264,014 including pension contributions last year.

And Craig Tunstall took home £186,203 which increases to £212,152 with pension contributions. Mr Tunstall, executive headteacher of the Gipsy Hill federation of schools, was parachuted in to run Oval primary in Croydon, but left after two days when parents complained about his
draconian approach.

Today he told the Standard: "I work damn hard and really care about every single child in my community. All my schools have soared in Ofsted."

He added: "I come from a northwestern council estate. I clawed my way up and earned the position I have got. I never dreamed I would earn a salary this big, it's not why I went into it."

The top of the official pay scale for headteachers in London is £112,181, but governors can make discretionary payments. Many heads also earn more by taking on additional responsibilities.

Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers said: "I think paying high salaries to people who deliver exceptional results across schools is a good idea."

Tower Hamlets, where 17 school staff are paid more than £100,000, the most of any borough, said: "Investing in the best education for our children and young people is paramount."

The department for education said schools set salaries in line with rules set out by the independent teachers' pay review body.