A HEADTEACHER in Corringham has a bigger pay packet than the Prime Minister.

“Super head” John King, in charge of Gable Hall School, and William Edwards in Grays, earned £177,872 last year, making him one of the 17 top earning state headteachers in the country.

Mr King, OBE, has been the head of Gable Hall since 1994, and was brought in to run William Edwards in 2006 after its headteacher resigned.

His salary package last year was £155,891, boosted to £177,872 with pension contributions.

The cost of the package, which beats David Cameron’s wage of £150,000, is split between the two schools.

The trade union GMB says the huge salaries of the 17 heads are unfair.

Public Services officer, Ted Purcell, said: “It is outrageous that a Headteacher in a local community school should earn more money than the Prime Minister.

"GMB found that one head in Wandsworth got a pay rise of over £20,000 in the past year is a downright disgrace and a slap in the face for GMB members now facing a pay freeze.”

Speaking about the furore surrounding his salary, Mr King said: “The publishing of public servant salaries over £150,000 is fine but needs to be put in context, rather than comparing it with the Prime Minister whose overall package is far more than his basic salary.

"Equally, I am the head of two of the largest schools in Thurrock and others in the list manage one school.

“Having said that, I would rather people judged me on the difference and impact that I make to young people’s lives.”

He added: "I am proud of the significant achievements that I have made with governors and staff to deliver four consecutive ‘Outstanding’ ratings by OFSTED at Gable Hall.

"At William Edwards we have improved in virtually every aspect of attainment.

"From a financial perspective, appointing a head teacher for each school would cost significantly more than the salary that governors have set for me to manage both schools.”

Mr King was awarded an OBE in 2005 for services to education.

In 2007 he was also one of only 60 headteachers selected by the National College for School Leadership into the role of National Leader of Education, which saw him given an important role in supporting schools in challenging circumstances, and having an input on education policy.

Gable Hall is judged by Ofsted to be an “outstanding” school, its GCSE results consistently place it in the top 15 per cent of schools in the country.

When Mr King took over at William Edwards the school went from being in the best 35-50 per cent of schools in the country to the top 15 per cent of schools in 2009.

Last year in Thurrock the second highest paid member of foundation school staff earned between £110,000 and £115,000.

The third highest earned between £95,001 and £100,000, and there were 68 members of staff earning between £50,001 and £90,000.