Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government is planning to take steps to support schools with their energy bills over winter 2022-23 in Romford constituency.

The Government has introduced the Energy Bill Relief Scheme which will protect schools from high energy costs and give them greater certainty over their budgets during the winter months. The details of the scheme can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/energy-bill-relief-scheme-help-for-businesses-and-other-non-domestic-customers.

Schools are also being supported by the cash increases to the core schools budget, which increased by £4 billion this financial year. Schools in Romford are attracting £76.8 million in total this year through the National Funding Formula (NFF), a 5.3% cash increase. This reflects 2.9% more per pupil in their pupil led funding compared to the 2021/22 financial year.  Schools’ actual allocations in 2022/23 financial year are based on local authorities’ local funding formulae. On top of this funding through the NFF, schools in Romford are seeing a further £2.3 million through the schools supplementary grant.

The Department knows that every school’s circumstances are different. Schools in serious financial difficulty should contact their local authority or the Education and Skills Funding Agency.