Schools standards minister Will Quince says classrooms must remain open five days a week this winter despite rising energy costs.
He insisted there was already "additional funding" of £4bn this year - which while not devoted to energy bills, would help schools pay their way. And he rebuffed fears raised earlier this month that some schools could cut to a three or four-day week, saying they should manage within "existing budgets".
On the idea some schools won’t be able to open five days a week he replied: “I don’t accept that. We expect schools to be open five days a week and over 70% of schools are open a 32.5 hour week.
