New Prime Minister urged to address school energy crisis

The Confederation of School Trusts' chief Leora Cruddas has written to the new Prime Minister Liz Truss, urging that action is taken to help schools face the energy crisis, saying that "doing nothing is not an option".

She wrote: "As the new school year begins, the education sector faces many challenges, but the most urgent is the exponential rise in energy costs, with no price cap for schools or other critical public sector organisations. Our members have shared with us details of increases in some cases surpassing 500 per cent. This is clearly not sustainable and, more importantly, directs funding away from the education of children.

"These cost pressures come on top of unfunded public sector pay awards. To be clear, we believe paying teachers, support staff, and leaders well is crucial to our economy. However, the announcements on public sector pay were made after budgets had already been set. And 90 per cent of our members have told us that pay awards are unaffordable within existing budgets.

"The rising energy costs and cost of living crisis also means that we will see more families in absolute poverty during the winter months when they will not be able to give children a hot meal or keep homes warm.

"The government must ensure pay awards are funded, energy grants are provided, and wider inflationary pressures are mitigated. Specific, costed, credible policy proposals must be found to support the public sector and families, and we must ensure our duty of care to children is not undermined by a budget that is not fit-for-purpose."