Manchester Council investigates high pay for staff at Whalley Range High School for Girls

Staff employed by a head teacher who turned one of the UK’s worst-performing schools into one of its best are facing massive pay cuts.

Dame Jean Else brought in dozens of workers when she took over at Whalley Range High School for Girls in Manchester 12 years ago. She achieved good results at the school but was sacked last year after an Audit Commission report highlighted financial irregularities and nepotism during her tenure.

Now the school has been named as the first to be evaluated by Manchester City Council under its single status scheme to regulate pay. The decision has been seen by many as an attempt to cut the high wages that Else paid her staff.

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It has been reported that up to 30 workers, including teaching assistants and caretakers, could lose more than half of their wages.

A Manchester City Council spokesman told the South Manchester Reporter: “A review of support-staffing arrangements is currently being carried out at Whalley Range High School to ensure that arrangements for the future are appropriate and fit for purpose.”