Commenting on the Chancellor’s emergency financial statement today, Paul Whiteman general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said:

“We all now wait to see whether or not the financial statement made this morning brings some certainty and calm to the markets. However, one thing is clear: there was no good news for schools or other public services.

“School leaders will rightly fear the chancellor’s suggestion that further savings will need to be found. We need to be very clear that school budgets are already at – and indeed beyond – breaking point. It would be a disaster if any of the mooted efficiency saving have an impact on school budgets.

“School leaders will also be worried about what any changes to the scheme supporting energy costs could mean for them. We need urgent clarification that the government will continue to support schools beyond the initial six-month period previously announced.

“Schools are already financially stretched to the bone. They have made all the easy savings. All that is left are very hard decisions with big consequences.”