A PRIMARY school headteacher's earnings of £231,400 have been branded "outrageous" by a union.

According to Lewisham Council's accounts, Mark Elms, of Tidemill Primary School in Frankham Street, Deptford, received a grand total of £276,523 for the 2009/10 financial year once pension contributions had been added.

His pay is £88,900 more than the prime minister earns in a year, £70,000 more than the head of Eton College and £55,000 more than the average headteacher.

Ted Purcell is public services officer for the GMB union. He said: "It is outrageous that a headteacher in a local community school should earn more money than the prime minister.

"This demonstrates that opposition to academy status is well founded as these new schools will be a law unto themselves.

"GMB want to see all schools being excellent local schools accountable to parents, the community and locally elected politicians."

A spokesman for Lewisham Council said: "Governing bodies are responsible for setting headteachers' pay in line with the national guidelines in the schoolteachers' pay and conditions document.

"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."

A total of 11 headteachers in London were identified by the union as earning more than £150,000.

Under the proposals being considered by Education Secretary Michael Gove no school leader would be paid more than the prime minister, who currently earns £142,500 following a pay cut.

News Shopper: Mark Elms with Tidemill pupils

The top of the pay scale for headteachers is £109,000 for those working in the largest London state schools, but governors are allowed to offer more.

Mark Elms' earnings for the 2009/10 financial year

Basic salary - £82,714

Payments for work on the Government's City Challenge programme (2008 to 2010) - £102,955*

Out-of-hours work - £10,000

Arrears for work in 2008/09 - £9,317

Pension contributions - £45,123

TOTAL - £250,109**

*The City Challenge programme was a Government drive to help under-achieving and disadvantaged children in primary and secondary schools in London.

**The council accounts show Mr Elms was paid a total of £276,523. News Shopper has asked Lewisham Council to explain how the remaining £26,414 was spent.

Successful School

Tidemill Primary School recently received an outstanding Ofsted report and has now been designated a National Support School.

The announcement was made earlier this month by the government agency, The National College for Leadership of Schools and Children’s Services.

Every year it selects successful schools to use their leadership and expertise to help develop struggling schools in challenging circumstances, and to help train future supporting schools.

Mark Elms was also made one of only 75 National Leaders of Education across the country.