The pay of head teachers in England should be capped at the level of the prime minister's salary, the government has said.

Education Secretary, Michael Gove, has written to the body which advises the government on teachers' pay to say they should not earn more than £142,500. The top of the pay scale is £109,000, but governors can offer much more.

It is thought that about 100 head teachers earn more than £150,000, with a handful earning as much as £180,000.