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£180,000 in wages for suspended Sats chief
Tim Ross28.04.09
THE former head of the Government's schools testing agency, who resigned over the Sats fiasco, will be paid £180,000 for the six months following his suspension last year, it emerged today.
Dr Ken Boston last week accused ministers of "sexing up" evidence given to Lord Sutherland's official inquiry into last year's marking delays in order to make him the scapegoat.
His claims led to pressure in the Commons on Education Secretary Ed Balls and Schools Minister Jim Knight.
Dr Boston was suspended in December by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority after offering his resignation. This was finally accepted last month.
Andrew Hall, acting QCA chief executive, said Dr Boston would receive about £180,000 between the date of his suspension and 11 June this year, when his contract comes to an end.
His statement came in reply to a Commons written question from shadow schools minister Nick Gibb via the Children, Schools and Families Department.
Mr Hall said: "I can confirm that the QCA expects to pay Dr Ken Boston approximately £180,000 in that period, which brings his contract with the QCA to an end.
"This payment includes contractual entitlements only. No special severance payments will be made to Dr Boston, except insofar as he will not be required to work out his full period of notice to 11 June, 2009.
"Similarly no performance bonus for this latest period nor any pension enhancement will be paid."
Reader views (3)
If it wasn't England, I wouldn't believe it is still possible to get paid for doing a job badly!
- Maya, London
They should at least get him doing the filing or cleaning the office instead of sending him home to put his feet up!
No wonder we need to borrow so much money when this is going on throughout the public sector. Its just completely ridiculous.
- Andyr, St Ives, Cambs
Yet another example of Labour and current UK rewarding failure. Can we all have £100k plus please Mr B if we mess up?
- Mike, London England
