The Department for Education (DfE) is looking into how schools are being affected by energy price increases so it can consider what “additional support” it can provide.
Schools are being invited to complete a survey setting out how much they are paying for gas and electricity, and whether their contracts are coming to an end.
It comes amid warnings that schools are faced with “gambling” over their future energy deals and there are concerns that soaring costs could lead to job cuts.
In an email to headteachers, sent today, the DfE says: ”The current energy situation is challenging and many schools whose contract is due to expire over the coming months are trying to get the best value when renewing their contracts.”
The DfE said it wants to get basic data from state schools on their current and future energy tariffs, and whether they are looking to move to a new tariff.
“We want to do as much as we can to help schools when it comes to renewing your contracts and getting the best value for money,” the email adds.
The survey will close on Thursday 2 June.
Earlier this year, Tes set out how schools were dealing with “astronomical” gas and electricity bills that were swamping their budgets.
One school Tes spoke to was bracing itself for costs to double from £85,000 to £170,000 when it finalised a new deal.
We also revealed how rising energy prices were forcing schools to take “worrying gambles” on their gas and electricity deals - with some leaders warning that jobs could be at risk as a result.
Energy market data shown to Tes reveals that the cost of the typical deals available to schools has more than doubled in the past 12 months, and the prices are even higher if schools don’t want to commit to long-term tariffs lasting three to five years, which are typically the cheapest on the market.
