The recent cost of living crisis has affected everyone, but it doesn’t just affect our home lives. It’s affecting our schools.
Lincoln area school William Farr C of E Comprehensive School’s school business leader Saskia Alcock says “like households we’ve seen utility bills increase, and a rise in the cost of materials, impacting our maintenance plan and schedules.
The cost of school lunches is also impacted, Mrs Alcock said “we are seeing the additional cost to us from suppliers of food, but can’t pass it on like restaurants or cafes”
But will kids miss out on their favourite clubs and opportunities to go on trips?
Mrs Alcock remains confident that these will continue, praising the staff’s commitment and says, “The clubs are run during school hours and don’t cost us anymore than the good will of our teachers who are brilliant.”
She also talked about the schools’ mission to not put further strain on households by increasing the price of things such as school uniform.
The school has set up a second-hand uniform shop. She said, “pupils may grow out of a uniform but that doesn’t mean it would be unable to be worn, this greatly benefits parents as they will be able to buy pre-loved items that are in good condition, but at a much lower price.”
Lincoln mother Rebecca Mcewan, whose daughter attends William Farr was worried that the increasing energy bills would be followed by increasing prices for things at the school. She said “I spend so much on my energy bills that I was worried I wouldn’t be able to afford school supplies let alone uniforms!”
Single academy trusts like William Farr can apply to the Education and Skills Funding Agency for grant funding to maintain the fabric of the school. If a grant is awarded the school is required to contribute to the overall project value. However, Mrs Alcock says the required contribution from school “has increased threefold, making it more difficult to maintain the fabric of the school.
“Without a school that is dry, warm and safe, we can’t educate our young people properly.”