There is “a strong argument” for paying the heads of school governing bodies in England £10,000 ($16,000) a year each, according to the National Governors’ Association – a proposal likely to be controversial among the professional classes that do much of the volunteering.

Offering payments for what has hitherto been seen as a voluntary service to the community would reflect the large amount of time needed to do a good job, according to Phil Revell, NGA chief executive.