An academy boss who heads up the Thomas Clarkson Academy in Wisbech is earning more than the Prime Minister.

Andrew Campbell, chief executive of the Brooke Weston Trust, whose eight academies include the Thomas Clarkson Academy and Peckover Primary in Wisbech, received £160-£165,000.

His wage packet is up from £145-£150,000 the year before.

A spokesman said: “The chief executive’s salary is set by the trust’s board with consideration to market standards and the figure includes salary, national insurance contributions and pension contributions.”

An analysis of 50 sets of academy accounts has revealed that at least five senior academy figures received pay rises of £20,000 or more, in a year when teachers’ salaries rose by 1pc.

Scott Lyons, joint division secretary for Norfolk National Union of Teachers, said: “If you are going to pay that much to a chief executive, the money has to come from somewhere.

“It’s absolutely horrific what’s going on. Funding is being hoovered up from the frontline, with less support staff.”

In 2014-15, the prime minister was paid £142,500.

In the same year, the highest-paid academy chief executive in England is believed to be Sir Daniel Moynihan, of the Harris Federation, which runs 28 academies around London. His salary was £395-£400,000.