It has been reported that “crisis meetings” are being held between school principals, administrators and governors during the summer holidays to find ways to keep funding flowing into the fall period. In September, pay increases are planned for teachers, departure school budgets short and at the same time, energy bills are expected to rise to 300 percent. Marc Jordan, the chief executive of Creative Education Trust, said he had heard discussions about a “three-day week” to cut energy costs.
The Creative Education Trust has 17 schools in the East and West Midlands and Norfolk that educate 13,500 students.
He said: “Others who are less fortunate are facing significant shortages and are already planning teacher layoffs.”
Marc said the trust is considering a hiring freeze and may be forced to scrap Covid catch-up programs and planned investments in school buildings.
dr. Robin Bevan, the principal of Southend High School for Boys in Essex, said: “If a four-day work week is not yet planned, it will certainly be considered.
“In the absence of highly anticipated above-inflation investment in school funding, sooner or later it will become a realistic prospect.”
Another chief executive of one of the largest academy trusts in the country, who declined to be named, told The Telegraph: “Shorter school days, fewer after-school clubs and enrichment opportunities and draconian restrictions on energy consumption will become a reality for all trusts and the situation is particularly challenging for smaller trusts and independent schools.
“This isn’t a plaintive plea for poverty. Nor is it the usual begging point before a spending statement — this is serious stuff.”
Schools have faced financial pressures in recent years, with funding per student falling by nine percent between 2010 and 2020.
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He said that although the school will receive £300,000 more in revenue, utility costs have risen by £200,000, with teachers’ wages being £70,000 more than budgeted.
It has been reported that some schools are planning to cut back on maintenance, classroom resources and extracurricular activities.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Education said: “We recognize that schools – like the economy in general – face increased costs, including in energy and employee benefits.”
“Our school white paper states our expectation that the school week should be a minimum of 32.5 hours – the current average – for all mainstream, state-funded schools. Thousands of schools are already delivering within existing budgets this week and we expect current funding plans to take this into account.”