Schools share negative impact of rising energy costs

School leaders’ union NAHT have surveyed its members on the rising energy costs their schools are facing.

The survey, conducted between 21st March – 5th April 2022, had over 1,000 responses from school leaders in England and showed that almost all respondents (99 per cent) were expecting an increase in their energy costs over the next 12 months.
 
On average, the respondents are anticipating a 106 per cent increase in energy costs, with 16 per cent expecting an increase of 200 per cent or more
    
More than a third of respondents (37 per cent) are predicting a deficit budget by the end of next year as a direct result of increased energy costs
     
Schools reported having to reduce spending on teachers or teaching hours, as well as on teaching assistants, non-educational support and services for children, and investment in maintenance and equipment for school buildings due to rising energy costs.
     
Paul Whiteman, general secretary for school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “We are hearing quite clearly from our members that rising energy costs will almost certainly have a negative impact on education, and could hamper their recovery efforts.
     
“For some, the energy price hikes are the equivalent to the cost of a full-time teacher.
     
“Every penny spent in schools is a choice. These increased energy costs mean that money which could be being spent on pupils is being paid to energy companies instead.
     
“The government’s attempts to restore school spending to 2010 levels is being rapidly eroded by these and other cost pressures. The government needs to do more to ease the impact of the energy crisis on schools, for children’s sake.”