A headteacher in the region has said a three-day week in classrooms is not the solution as MPs call for ‘urgent action’ to protect school budgets from the escalating energy crisis.
Andy Byers, headteacher at Framwellgate School, Durham, has dismissed reports some schools are considering cutting costs by closing their doors as ‘scaremongering’.
But finances are being stretched to cover teacher pay rises in September and rapidly rising energy costs to run schools, prompting calls for the need to protect public services.
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MPs in the region have said closing schools would constitute a ‘failure of Government’ and have called for the energy sector to be renationalised.
The Telegraph has reported that headteachers are holding ‘crisis meetings’ during the summer holidays with boards of governors before the autumn term starts next month.
Mr Byers said: “I don’t have any plans or intention of operating a three-day week and I’m not aware of any school which is.
“To be honest, I think this is scaremongering and has been generated by social media.
“Schools are facing huge budget deficits because the Government is not funding pay rises, but a three-day week is not the solution to this.”
He said: “Education Ministers need to explain how they expect schools to meet rising cost pressures and deliver improving standards within existing budgets.
“If schools must cut hours and are forced to reduce the school week to four or even three days, this would be a terrible failure of government.
“We do not have a fit and proper government and the public need to be given an opportunity to secure a better future at the ballot box through a General Election.”
Andy McDonald, Labour MP for Middlesbrough, said the energy and cost of living crisis is only getting worse.
He said: “The shameful reality of schools having to go part time in attempt to cope just shows how serious the situation is.
“We have a national emergency and our current Prime Minister is on permanent holiday and his would-be successors have nothing to say to address the crisis.
“Families, businesses and public bodies cannot withstand these ever-increasing costs and urgent emergency action is needed.
“But we cannot escape the fact that having our energy in the hands of profiteers simply doesn't work and the sector needs to be brought into public ownership as a matter of urgency and let's put an end to rip off Britain."
Labour’s North Durham MP Kevan Jones said energy price increases will hit schools' budgets hard.
He said: “Ministers need to wake up to the financial crisis this will put some schools in.
“If it is not addressed, it could be a choice between keeping the lights and heating on or make cuts to already tight budgets.”
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The Northern Echo also contacted several Tory MPs across County Durham Teesside for comment but no-one responded, however Darlington MP Peter Gibson said he would address the issue if a school in his constituency was considering a three-day week.
A spokesperson for the Department for Education said: “We recognise that schools – much like the wider economy – are facing increased costs, including on energy and staff pay.
“Our schools white paper set out our expectation that the school week should last a minimum of 32.5 hours – the current average – for all mainstream state-funded schools.
“Thousands of schools already deliver this length of week within existing budgets and we expect current funding plans to account for this.”
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