It’s been revealed that the former vice-chancellor of Bath Spa University received over £800,000 in her final year, according to recently published accounts.

Former Vice-Chancellor Christina Slade with Mary Berry
The accounts have shown that Professor Christina Slade was paid an extra £429,000 ‘for loss of office’ in addition to her annual salary of £250,000 and ‘other benefits-in-kind’.
A spokesperson for the popular university told the BBC that the amount “was considered to represent value for money”.
The accounts reveal that Prof Slade received her £250,000 salary, £429,000 for leaving her post, £20,000 as a housing allowance and a further £20,000 for ‘other benefits-in-kind’.
The total received inclusive of pension contributions was £808,000 for the year ending 31st July 2017.
Prof Slade left her post in August this year, and was succeeded on an interim basis by Professor Nick Foskett, formerly Vice-Chancellor of Keele University.
Bath Spa University issued the following statement: “Professor Slade stood down as Vice-Chancellor of Bath Spa University after more than five years of service in the summer of 2017.
“Having taken legal advice the University paid Professor Slade a sum which reflected her contractual and statutory entitlements and was considered to represent value for money.
“Relevant HEFCE guidance was taken into account and legal advice, based on this guidance, obtained.
“The Vice-Chancellor’s salary at Bath Spa University is determined by the University’s remuneration committee. Members of this committee do not include the Vice-Chancellor or any members of staff. Its members are all independent governors of the University and not paid members of staff.
“When determining the salary of the Vice-Chancellor and other senior staff, the remuneration committee is mindful of the need to respond to concerns about excessive salaries and take into account the performance of the University in meeting key performance indicators, the individual contribution of senior staff to achieving the University’s strategic objectives, the need for the University to be competitive in the higher education market, affordability and reputation.
“Over the last five to ten years, Bath Spa University has become one of the UKs leading creative universities according to Which? University. Financially sound, it has invested heavily in developing outstanding facilities, generated a significant increase in research activity and become increasingly international in its outlook and activities.”
At the start of the Bath Spa financial document, the foreword acknowledges the ongoing concerns regarding the pay for vice-chancellors at universities across the country. It says: “The University is, of course, well aware of public concern over the remuneration of Vice-Chancellors, and we took great care, through our independent remuneration committee.
“The remuneration of the new Vice-Chancellor was appropriately benchmarked against relevant comparators, and was at the right level to attract and retain a top quality candidate who can guide and lead the University through the next phase of its development in what will undoubtedly be testing times.”
Professor Susan Rigby, currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Lincoln, has been appointed as permanent Vice-Chancellor and will join Bath Spa in January 2018.