Commenting as new analysis by the Labour Party reveals that schools are facing potential increased energy bills of £80 million this winter, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“With energy costs skyrocketing, the government does urgently need to look at how schools might be impacted this winter. Covid guidance on classroom ventilation is still ‘open some windows’, but schools do need to be kept at a reasonable temperature for the children in them, which means heating use – and bills – could rapidly start to cripple already pressured school budgets.

"We are already hearing of schools seeing their gas bills being dramatically increased, even when they thought they were locked into a fixed tariff. The government needs to recognise this and ensure schools have the funding and resources they need to keep staff and students comfortable and safe.”