The government has announced energy relief funding for schools and colleges to be spent on energy efficiency upgrades, but experts say a nationwide retrofitting scheme is needed
The government has announced a series of energy relief funding allocations for schools and colleges. £500m will be spent on energy efficiency upgrades in schools and colleges, and an extra £2bn for schools next year to be split between mainstream schools and high needs
New guidance has also been published to support schools to maximise energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and improve sustainability and resilience this winter and beyond.
The government’s current Energy Relief Scheme which is supporting schools and colleges this winter will run until the spring.
Investment to shield schools from high energy bills and boost to budgets
It is hoped that the new guidance and funding will help schools save money, become more energy efficient over the challenging winter and increase winter resilience for future years.
Government estimations suggest that on average, a primary school will receive approximately £16,000, a secondary school will get £42,000 and a further education college group will benefit from £290,000.
Possible improvements suggested in the guidance include installing better heating controls, insulation to reduce heat loss from pipes or switching to energy efficient lighting.
A further £2bn of energy relief funding for schools is to come
As announced in the Autumn Statement, the government has committed to investing an extra £2bn funding for schools next year and the year after.
This £2bn of new money will be allocated between mainstream schools and high needs funding.
Local councils will get an extra £400m for high needs budgets, to help support children with special educational needs or disabilities.
Academies, maintained mainstream schools and special schools will all be guaranteed a funding boost, which will arrive from April next year.
This means average funding per pupil for mainstream schools will increase by approximately five percent overall, in the next financial year compared to 2022-23.
A typical primary school with 200 pupils will get approximately £28,000, and secondary schools with around 900 pupils will receive approximately £170,000. In total schools will be receiving £58.8bn in 2024-25.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:
“We’re putting this cash in the hands of school and college leaders quickly, so they can decide what work is needed and so that our brilliant teachers can focus on teaching in a warm and safe environment.”
“Education is rightly a top priority for this Government and we will continue to strive to provide every child with a world-class education.”
Some believe the government’s actions do not go far enough
The Let’s Go Zero campaign, which is supporting schools to become zero carbon by 2030, is calling for government funding to retrofit every school in the country, to ensure they stop leaking heat, carbon emissions and money.
Alex Green, programme manager at Let’s Go Zero, said: “While we welcome the government’s recognition that schools and colleges are facing a tough winter and need help managing their skyrocketing energy bills, we must be clear that this is merely a sticking plaster when a long-term solution is desperately needed.
Retrofitting is a more effective long term strategy
“If this money is used wisely, it can help schools lower their bills, and make their buildings more energy efficient.” Alex continued. “But to really solve the problem of money and carbon emissions leaking from schools and colleges every day, we need the government to commit to adapting and retrofitting every school in the UK.
“This will futureproof schools and colleges once and for all, as well as delivering much needed green skills jobs in every corner of the country. Without a comprehensive fix, we will be doomed to repeat these piecemeal measures every winter.”
