London schools will be faced with an £85 million energy bill when government support runs out at the end of this month as the cost of living crisis continues to bite, a new analysis shows.
It comes amid calls for more help for schools to deal with rising bills. One London headteacher who is expecting his energy bills to quadruple said: “We’ve cut everything we can — what else is there to cut?”
Schools energy bills are capped under the energy bill relief scheme, but it is due to end this month and be replaced with a less generous discount scheme.
Analysis by the Liberal Democrats found that the average London primary school will see support cut by £55.62 per pupil per year, while for secondary schools the figure is £80.42 per pupil per year. Schools will have to pay these additional costs from their budgets.
Simon Hawley, head of Stanley Primary School in Teddington, said: “Our school is looking at an increase in our electricity bills from £19,000 to £85,000, which is just unsustainable.”
