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State head on £130,000 bonuses puts his family on the payroll
Tim Ross, Education Correspondent07.04.09
A LEADING London headteacher who took home at least £130,000 in bonuses employed three family members at his school, a whistleblower claimed today.
The bonus culture at Copland Community College in Brent saw £1million paid to senior school staff over seven years, according to a teacher at the state comprehensive.
The head, Sir Alan Davies, personally received bonuses of £50,000 two years ago and another £80,000 last year.
The school insisted Sir Alan had been paid for hard work and excellent results. Last year 52 per cent of his pupils achieved the Government's target of five C grades including English and maths at GCSE. This was just one percentage point higher than the average for London.
According to teacher Hank Roberts, Sir Alan's son and son-in-law are employed as caretakers, while his sister works in the school office.
Mr Roberts, formerly head of geog-raphy at Copland, works full-time as a union official but still has a formal contract with the school.
While there was no suggestion that these appointments were unlawful, Mr Roberts told the Standard: "I do not believe that state-funded schools should be family firms."
Mr Roberts, claiming protection under legislation for whistleblowers, said he believed the bonus payments should not have been allowed. "This is part of a totally unacceptable bonus culture that has spread to state-funded education and must not be tolerated."
He condemned the "gold rush" in state schools, particularly among heads of privately sponsored city academies.
The school's chair of governors, Dr Indravadan Patel, confirmed Sir Alan's bonuses. He will receive no bonus this year because of the credit crunch.
Dr Patel said the money was paid for extra work Sir Alan carried out "above and beyond what would be the normal duties of any head".
He added: "I'm proud to say at Copland we pay our staff very well. This is not money for nothing. We expect them to work hard for it, and they do, which is why we have such excellent results." He said Sir Alan had taken over running a primary school in special measures, brought in more than £300,000 in sponsorship, attracted £2million for a new school and ran a Saturday school.
Dr Patel said Sir Alan's leadership had "turned Copland School into one of the most successful inner-city comprehensives in the country".
He went on: "We believe that Sir Alan is worth every penny and we are proud to have him as our headteacher."
Schools Secretary Ed Balls backed the payment of bonuses to headteachers. He thought such payments were "rare" but acceptable, provided they were done responsibly and in recognition of genuine results.
Sir Alan's wife declined to comment at their home in Mill Hill last night.
Reader views (11)
if the salary doesnt cover your "hard work" then you ought to campaign for a pay rise....not award yourself whatever you feel. Unless this bonus culture is stopped now the future bonus hunters will be off the charts....They should be made to pay the money back. Its disgusting.
- Anon, london
I work at this school.
I will say, for the record, that I consider the sums involved to be very, very large and a little shocking.
Also,for the record, THERE HAVE BEEN NO DAYS WITHOUT HEATING. We would be sent home if that happened. Any suggestion that that has happened is simply not true. Please provide dates.
Interactive whiteboards are ALL OVER THE SCHOOL. The kids haven't been to other schools; if they had, they would know that they are lucky to get what they do in Copland.
However, the Head has been the best head I have worked for - understanding and supportive and the school has been without shortages and well-equipped in a way I have not encountered before.
- Disillusioned, London
I totally agree with Mr Roberts, in that as a matter of principle these kinds of bonuses are unacceptable to a head teacher, especially in a state run school. What is worse is that as a teacher at Copland I can confirm that very little money is actually spent on school resources or (an interactive whiteboard is regarded as a rare luxury in non ICT classroom) and the building is in a very poor state of repair. Children have often complained to me that they feel the school is falling apart while the head is seen driving in new cars with his bonus money. Why should such absurd amounts of money be rewarded to the head while the children go without much needed resources in a dismal learning environment?
- Anonymous, Wembley
I can remember my parents being very against sending me to Copland High School even though it was my local secondary. The reasons were obvious. Copland had the wrong sort of reputation. Sir Alan has turned the school around and is one of the safest in the local borough. To compare him to a city fat cat is an insult to his magnificent achievements.
- Vijay, Wembley
So, greed has now spread to the schools and the bonus culture is thriving.
- Frederick, London
This is a politically motivated attack on a head teacher who has made a huge inpact at the school attended by a large number of children form Ethnic Minorities. He has increased the schools position year in year out over the last few years, If it requires a bonus scheme to keep such people in position so be it. The other allegations of preferential treatment are just that, allegations, and is simply a smokescreen to hide the real agenda of this teacher or “whistleblower”, to scupper the redevelopment of the school. This area is crying out for facilities that will inspire and enlighten, and politics should not be allowed into it. Above all the critics of those plans should remember that Administrations change, and polices change, however if there is to be a change of government, do you see the current opposition funding the new school program’s? Frank Downes. Stonebridge.
- Frank Downes, Stonebridge
Sir Alan Davis OBE is worth every penny, Copland is one of the safest schools in London, no fear of stabbings outside his school sounds like sour grapes from the union guy, who's rocked his boat?
- Marcus, Wembley
I am not surprised!!! Did the head teacher set his own bonus? I am familiar with Copland and know that he does not teach and staff need to buzz in to see him in his office. This should not happen and the governors are wrong to award him a bonus. The school is falling to bits and this winter there was days without heating. Is this man a head teacher for personal financial gain??
- Anon, wembley, middx
Why on earth do head teachers need any kind of "bonus" they never used to!? £80,000 of OUR money being used as a bonus for him doing what? HIS JOB!??? Oh look i've just answered the phone to a client, bonus please.
- Alanj, London
This is the tip of the iceberg.
I know a provincial Institute of Higher Education where people were made redundant to make way for members of the foreign Principal's family.
How this guy got an OBE is beyond me, he might be the Principal, but he sure ain't principled !
- Cap, london
"rare" but acceptable, bit like MPs expenses.
It seems to me there are a lot of 'rare' about!!
- Carlo Cusano, Bedford
