A SOUTHEND MP has raised the issues of schools potentially shutting due to soaring energy bills in the House of Commons.

A Southend headteacher has warned schools may have to consider a four-day week due to soaring costs.

Dr Robin Bevan, headteacher of Southend High School for Boys, previously told the Daily Telegraph costs for all UK schools are simply rising "far more swiftly than budgets" and warned the future looks "exceptionally bleak".

Dr Bevan, a former president of the National Education union, said: “In schools, already operating on minimal staffing levels, reducing employment costs means cutting hours.

“If a four day week is not already being planned, it will certainly be being considered ... and in the absence of long overdue above-inflation investment in school funding, it’ll become a realistic prospect sooner rather than later.”

In the wake of Dr Bevan's warning, Southend West MP Anna Firth has asked Greg Hands, Minister of State for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change, what help schools will be getting to deal with costs.

In the House of Commons, Ms Firth said: "Southend West is home to 30 excellent schools, many heads have been in contact with me concerned that they won't be able to pay the utility bills.

"One has even trailed in the local press the possibility of only opening for four days a week.

"Would he assure me that it's the Government's priority to ensure our children's education does not suffer as a result of this energy crisis as it did as a result of the coronavirus crisis?"

Mr Hands responded: "Certainly schools are right at the forefront of our thinking for this coming winter and she's absolutely right that we need to make sure the schools are properly supported.

"I think there are lessons to be learned from the pandemic as to how that was done and I'm sure that her words will be well heard from ourselves, from HM Treasury and by the Department for Education."