NAHT comments on Energy Bill Relief Scheme for schools

The new Energy Bill Relief Scheme will cut energy prices for businesses, charities and public-sector organisations such as schools and hospitals

Commenting as the government outlines its plans to help support businesses and public services with energy bills, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“While it is positive to have more detail on the government’s plans to help schools with spiralling energy costs, we have real concerns that this just doesn’t go far enough,
 
“Though it is good to see that schools who have reached the end of their contract and switched since April will be helped, we’re concerned that those who were hit with higher prices before that won’t be. There will be some schools who slip through the cracks.
 
“We are also very concerned that schools do not have any certainty on costs beyond six months – schools budget for the whole school year, six months doesn’t really solve things for them when they have no idea what will be facing them in the Spring term. Schools will potentially still have to be diverting money towards energy and away from education, to avoid a nasty shock in six months’ time.
 
“Even with this cap many schools will still find they are left facing much higher bills than budgeted for, which will necessitate extensive cuts to their educational offer. In a truly desperate situation, this plan is better than nothing, but unfortunately it doesn’t get close to solving the current funding crisis in schools.
 
“Energy bills are only one of the massive cost pressures facing schools this term. The government’s decision not to fund teachers’ pay this year is an enormous hit to school finances, and many other costs are rising due to inflation too. The government urgently needs to take another look at education funding as a whole.”