Councillors demand school energy support clarity as bills soar

Councillors are demanding clarity over the government’s energy price guarantee for schools, with some schools likely to pay tens of thousands of pounds more if it ends in April.

Writing to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Councillor Andrew Waller has asked the Government to urgently set out the details of the plans to help schools facing extortionate energy bills.

Mixed messages from government about extending support next year have left schools in a limbo over how to balance their budgets and what impact rising energy costs would have on already constrained budgets.

September’s energy bill relief scheme announcement included a review after six months, determining which sectors would receive continued support. But the autumn statement stated public sector organisations would “not be eligible”. Government figures have argued £2.3 billion extra school funding would help instead.

Yet last week, schools minister Nick Gibb suggested a review would take place, that would “determine support” for schools bills – suggesting an extension is not impossible.

Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, commented:

“Many school leaders are contacting me about their concerns of being left in the dark over what support will be available for them post April. We are already seeing schools paying five times more than last year, and as costs and pressures rise this uncertainty is causing real harm.

“Whilst the government’s boost to core budgets is welcome it will not to be sufficient to cover very steep rises in energy costs. The constant mixed messaging and lack of certainty over support plans is putting schools in an impossible situation. This could have unfortunate consequences as tight budgets are squeezed even further, impacting on the money available for staff and crucial student support.

“Our schools cannot be expected to balance their books at the expense of the future our children and young people.”