Unions have questioned a £60m Welsh Government package to make schools and colleges more energy efficient at the same time as the continued row over funding and teachers’ pay. They said they don’t understand how money can be found for items like LED lights and new roofs and not on funding enough staff and adequate pay.
The National Association of Headteachers Cymru said the £60m green bill was twice the amount that could end the deadlock over pay that will see teachers walk out of classrooms again next week. The Nasuwt said it was no use having sustainable schools without enough staff to deliver quality education needed.
They were responding to an announcement today by Education Minister Jeremy Miles that £60m was being handed to local education authorities to make schools and colleges more energy efficient - £50m for schools and £10m for colleges. The cash is coming from the education capital infrastructure investment budget, which can only be used for capital build.
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The minister said the new funding will help work such as replacement of roofs, heating and ventilation and “low carbon solutions” including including LED lighting.
But headteachers and teaching unions questioned why money could be found for this project and not on staff pay and school funding. Members of the National Education Union are striking over an “insulting” 5% initial below inflation pay offer and have also rejected a renewed offer of 1.5% plus a 1.5% one-off payment.
Unions have warned a staff recruitment and retainment crisis, caused by pay erosion and increased work pressures, has led to a "crisis" in schools. Classes are being covered by non-qualified staff and there's a shortage of teachers in key subjects including maths, English, Welsh and sciences.
Members of the National Education Union are striking again on March 15 and 16 heads in NAHT Cymru are on a work to rule in protest over school funding and conditions. NAHT Cymru Director Laura Doel said the £60m green package represented twice the amount that could end the pay and funding row.
She welcomed money for sustainable schools, but said money should be re-directed in the same way for pay and school funding.
“At a time when we are taking industrial action over pay and funding, it is slightly galling that double the amount of money that has been made available to bring our dispute to an end can be directed in certain circumstances.
“Our schools will surely only be sustainable when we have the leaders and teachers we need to run them.”
“We welcome the allocation of money for sustainable schools as it is important that we all work together to support the decarbonisation agenda. Better still is the news that this money appears to be ringfenced for this purpose, as we have long-standing concerns about the flow of funding from the Welsh Government to schools via local authorities.
“However, we are left wondering, if money can be directed for this purpose, why the same cannot be said for funding for teachers’ and leaders’ pay. While the government may indicate additional money directed to Local Authorities should cover teachers and leaders pay, some local authorities choose not to spend it for that purpose.”
Neil Butler, Nasuwt national official for Wales echoed this. He said: “It is certainly eyebrow raising. Obviously energy efficiency is important and given present energy costs there should be long term savings.
“However, we have repeatedly been told that there is no money left. Teachers have seen their pay fall by almost a quarter over the last decade through Welsh Government neglect. That has impacted on recruitment and retention. None of us want to see energy efficient schools with no teachers in them.”
How much each local education authority is getting to make schools and colleges more energy efficient
- Isle of Anglesey £1,18m
- Blaenau Gwent £954,248
- Bridgend £2,32m
- Caerphilly £2,96m
- Cardiff £5,46m
- Carmarthenshire £3,14m
- Ceredigion £1,14m
- Conwy £1,77m
- Denbighshire £1,71m
- Flintshire £2,52m
- Gwynedd £2,24m
- Merthyr Tydfil £951,656
- Monmouthshire £1,21m
- Neath Port Talbot£2,22m
- Newport £2,55m
- Pembrokeshire £1,9m
- Powys £2,19m
- Rhondda Cynon Taff£4,05m
- Swansea £3,60m
- Torfaen £1,43m
- Vale of Glamorgan £2,27m
- Wrexham £2,14m
Announcing the funding Mr Miles said: “Wales has made a very strong commitment to being more sustainable and address the climate emergency head on. The funding announced today will enable a comprehensive programme of sustainable improvements for schools and colleges across Wales. It’s important that school buildings support energy reduction and decarbonisation in line with our Net Zero Strategy.
“We want the buildings in which our children and young people learn to not only be welcoming spaces, but also ensure they are not impacting on the environment and the future environment of the young people of Wales.”
A Welsh Government, spokesperson, said: “We believe headteachers will very much welcome this additional capital funding for school building improvements.
“This is capital funding, not revenue funding. Capital funding cannot be used for ongoing expenses, such as teacher’s pay. It is incorrect to claim otherwise.”
A Welsh Government, spokesperson, said: “We believe headteachers will very much welcome this additional capital funding for school building improvements.
“This is capital funding, not revenue funding. Capital funding cannot be used for ongoing expenses, such as teacher’s pay. It is incorrect to claim otherwise.”
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