The head of a chain of academy schools earned the equivalent of a whopping £25,000 a month for running the trust, it has emerged.
Mike Ramsay, 61, pocketed a total of £127,000 for just five months’ work as interim chief executive of the academy trust, which runs 21 schools.
Mr Ramsay’s firm, Hi Tech Group Ltd, were also paid to provide IT services to the trust.
Wakefield City Academies Trust (WCAT) defended the sky-high rates, saying it was in line with market rates and proper tender processes were followed when awarded contracts.
Accounts made up to August 31, 2016, showed Hi Tech Group were paid a staggering £295,926 over the previous 12 months.
The financial report said: “The payments cover the provision of IT services to Wakefield City Academy, trust adviser services, interim CEO services and the development of bespoke software.”
Mr Ramsay’s bumper £127,153 paycheck covered work for “interim chief executive services” between March and July 2016.
He was also paid £46,101 for work being an “executive adviser” to the trust between September 2015 and March 2016.
Since July Mr Ramsay was directly employed by WCAT as chief executive on a fixed-term basis.
His contract runs up until August 31 this year.
A WCAT spokesman said: “The remuneration package covering the period March 2016 to August 31, 2017, is in line with the market.”