ASCL responds to Labour figures on school energy costs

Commenting on Labour analysis showing that schools face their energy costs rising by up to £80 million,Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

“Labour has identified a huge extra cost pressure on school budgets which are already extremely tight. This isn’t the only extra cost coming down the line. The government appears to think that the additional money for schools announced in the Budget will cover the cost of meeting its policy of raising teacher starting salaries to £30,000.

“We absolutely do think that salaries need to be improved across the board to boost recruitment and retention. And we fully welcome the additional investment in schools. The trouble is that school budgets have been hammered over the past decade and this extra money could very quickly evaporate under the weight of extra cost pressures.

“This is before we even get on to the fact that more needs to be done to improve investment in support for children who are in persistent poverty and those with special educational needs. Wednesday’s Budget is not a case of job done.”