Headteacher tells LBC of more than £67,000 increase in her school's energy bills

21 January 2022, 15:15

Headteacher says her school's energy bills have risen by over £67,000

By Sam Sholli

This is the moment a headteacher told LBC that her school's energy bills have risen by more than £67,000.

Sharan Matharu, who is the headteacher at Elizabeth Woodville School in Northampton, brought up the figure while speaking to LBC's Shelagh Fogarty.

The exchange between the LBC presenter and the headteacher comes as the cost of living crisis grips families across the UK.

Shelagh asked the headteacher: "So, what's been the hefty bills that you've been facing in school?"

The headteacher responded: "Our energy bills have gone up to over £205,000-a-year. So that's an increase of just over £67,000.

"And that's the contract we signed based on usage previously.

"I'm a little bit worried it might slightly higher because the usage is up due to all the windows and doors being open all the time.

"We're sort of keeping the heating on for longer, I'm thinking."

'Me and my husband don't really get a plate of food anymore.'

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng spoke to LBC this morning and did not rule out plans for a one-off payment of up to £500 to help struggling families through the cost of living crisis.

Mr Kwarteng said this morning: “We are always looking at ways in which we can try and soften price rises, undue hikes in bills.“I’m sure there will be more information about that in the next few weeks.

“There are lots of measures that have been talked about and ultimately it’s a matter for Rishi Sunak and his team at the Treasury. “We are trying to get to some common solution.

“We’ve got the warm home discount, which gives very vulnerable people, people on low incomes, support for bills. There’s also winter fuel payment as well.“We are having conversations across government to see what more can be done.”

The Treasury is now said to be investigating whether a one-off payment to the poorest households may be a better solution than slashing VAT on energy bills, which the Chancellor is reportedly concerned would give financial aid to richer households who do not need it.

READ MORE: Poorest people 'made to balance the books': Food campaigner explains cost of living crisis

More Shelagh Fogarty News

See more More Shelagh Fogarty News

'We're blaming graduates for the migration crisis?'

Adam calls it 'absurd' to blame graduates for rising migration

Watch Again: Shelagh Fogarty is joined by Health Secretary Wes Streeting to take your calls

Call the Cabinet: Shelagh Fogarty is joined by Wes Streeting to take your calls

Caller Sue accuses Starmer of letting in illegal immigrants

Caller Sue accuses Starmer of rolling out the red carpet for 'illegal immigrants'

Caller Ayo's impassioned defence of trial by jury

Caller Ayo’s impassioned defence of trial by jury

LBC caller's blistering message to millionaires leaving the country to avoid tax

Caller Sabrina's blistering message to millionaires leaving the country to avoid tax

Kemi Badenoch owes Rachel Reeves a 'public apology', says LBC caller

Kemi Badenoch owes Rachel Reeves a 'public apology', says LBC caller

Caller Comp

LBC Callers react to Glastonbury IDF controversy

'Let us have a referendum on the death penalty,' demands LBC caller

'Let us have a referendum on the death penalty,' demands LBC caller

Natasha calls Shelagh Fogarty

Natasha ‘won’t vote Labour again’ over tax on private school fees

LBC callers react to Donald Trump’s sweary outburst

LBC callers react to Donald Trump’s sweary outburst

Caller Sarah says Trump’s F-word rant shows his ‘thuggish’ side

Caller Sarah says Trump’s F-word rant shows his ‘thuggish’ side

LBC caller accuses Shelagh Fogarty of 'whitewashing' grooming gang statistics

LBC caller accuses Shelagh Fogarty of 'whitewashing' grooming gang statistics

'It makes me angry, it's a bit rich from him'

Jay accuses Robert Jenrick of using youngsters' poverty to chase clicks from the far-right

'How do you get Hamas out? We didn't get the IRA out...'

LBC caller from Northern Ireland warns trauma will perpetuate conflict in Middle East

LBC Caller: 'At least we know where we stand with Reform'

LBC Caller: 'At least we know where we stand with Reform'

LBC callers react to the local election results

LBC callers react to the local election results