NEU Warns Labour MPs & Slams MAT CEO Pay

Welcome to The Daily School Leaders Briefing. Today's episode focuses on powerful messages from NEU General Secretary Daniel Kebede's keynote speech at the union's annual conference, delivering stark warnings to the Labour government and sharp criticism of Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) executive pay. Essential listening for UK school leaders navigating the current political and financial landscape.

Key Briefings Inside:

1. NEU Issues Political Warning to Labour Over Pay & Funding: We unpack Daniel Kebede's direct threat to make Labour MPs "pay a high political price" through constituency campaigning if the government fails to deliver an improved, fully-funded teacher pay settlement. Understand his declaration that cutting school funding is "indefensible for a Labour Government". Explore the context linking this warning to the potential for an autumn strike ballot triggered by the STRB outcome and the June Spending Review. Hear his framing of inadequate funding as a "betrayal" and his comparison between defence spending increases and the lack of resources for education priorities like pay, SEND, and Free School Meals. Analyse the implications of this heightened political pressure on the government and the potential impact on local constituency dynamics surrounding school funding debates. Keywords: Daniel Kebede NEU conference speech, Labour government teacher pay warning, school funding cuts Labour, NEU constituency campaigning, teacher strike ballot autumn 2025, STRB pay award, June Spending Review, school funding politics.

   
   

2. MAT CEO Pay Denounced as a 'Scandal': Delve into Mr Kebede's strong criticism of high salaries awarded to some Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) CEOs, labelling them a "scandal" while schools struggle for resources and staff face pay pressures. Learn about the specific example cited (Sir Dan Moynihan, Harris Federation) and the call for limits on CEO pay alongside "full financial transparency" from trusts. We also cover the counterarguments presented by Leora Cruddas, CEO of the Confederation of School Trusts (CST), who defended MAT leadership pay based on organisational complexity, the need to attract talent, robust governance duties, and existing financial transparency. Analyse the ongoing debate surrounding MAT executive compensation, resource allocation within the academy system, and the differing perspectives of unions and sector bodies. Keywords: MAT CEO pay scandal, Daniel Kebede MAT criticism, academy trust executive salaries, Sir Dan Moynihan Harris Federation, school resource funding, Leora Cruddas CST rebuttal, MAT financial transparency, academy trust governance.

   
   

Audience: This briefing provides critical insights for Headteachers, Senior Leadership Teams (SLT), Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) CEOs and executives, School Business Leaders (SBLs), and Governors across the UK.