Children told to wear extra layers amid school heating woes
Gloucestershire children are having to wear extra layers of clothing because their school heating system can only run at 50 per cent capacity
Gloucestershire children are having to wear extra layers of clothing because their school heating system can only run at 50 per cent capacity and needs replacing.
Bishop’s Cleeve Academy Primary sent out a letter to parents earlier this month explaining the issues they face with their main heating system.
Parents were told that as the cold weather sets in during the winter months, the system will not be able to increase its output further, and some areas of the school may feel cooler than usual.
The school has instead had to rely on heaters placed throughout the school, some of which have been donated by parents.
This has sparked concerns from one councillor as the temperature continues to drop.
The school has been seeking extra funding to replace the heating system which is expected to cost around £1m.
They have applied to the Government’s Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) for support over the last three years, but their previous bids have not been successful.
And so far they have invested £71,000 in essential repairs to keep the system working as well as possible.
Reform UK Coounty Councillor Leigh Challis (Coleford) said parents need transparency and has asked for temperature readings to be shared so families can be reassured that conditions are now safe.
“Do children still need to wear extra layers in lessons? Clear answers will help restore confidence.”
Education and skills cabinet member Linda Cohen (LD, Wotton-under-Edge) said: “We recognise the importance of ensuring that children are taught in warm and safe conditions, and we understand the concerns of parents and carers during this period of cold weather.
“This school is part of the Gloucestershire Learning Alliance Trust (GLA), which is funded directly by the Department for Education (DfE). However we have been in close contact with the Trust to offer support where we can.
“The Trust has assessed temperatures in all classrooms and installed additional electric heaters in areas most affected. We have also offered property advice and shared details of contractors who may help with the planned works.
“While the council’s powers and responsibilities are limited in this matter, we will continue to liaise with the Trust and provide assistance where possible.”
GLA Trust chief finance and operations officer Hannah Dell said the trust has been actively trying to secure government funding for the replacement of the old boiler and heating system at the school for a number of years.
“We recently contacted parents to alert them to the fact that on very cold days, some areas of the school might not be as warm as we would like and asked parents to send children in with an additional layer,” she said.
“The Trust has invested significant amounts of money to minimise the risk and impact of the ageing heating system as well as in local heaters for the cooler areas of the school.
“Following the recent parent letter, parents have also generously donated some more heaters.
“We remain hopeful that the latest CIF bid will be successful and have contingency plans in place should we need them to ensure we can continue to educate our pupils in a warm and safe environment.
The Department for Education said the Government has given a long-term commitment backed by long-term funding through to 2034-35 to improve the condition of our schools and colleges across England.
This will see them investing almost £3 billion per year by 2034-35 in capital maintenance and renewal to improve the condition of schools and colleges, rising from £2.4 billion currently.
Bishop’s Cleave Primary may also apply for urgent capital support at any time, if they are experiencing serious and urgent issues that threaten the operation of the school, and which cannot be managed independently or that cannot wait for a future funding round.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Every child deserves a safe, warm and high-quality classroom where they can focus on learning, so it’s shocking that years of neglect have left some schools in dire need of repair.
“Through our Plan for Change we are fixing the fabric of our schools and restoring the pride pupils feel in their classrooms. We are investing £38 billion in education capital over five years, taking investment to levels not seen since 2010. And for the first time, we are providing long-term maintenance funding through to 2034-35, rising to almost £3 billion per year to improve the condition of our schools and colleges.
“As part of this Bishop’s Cleeve Primary Academy can apply for the Condition Improvement Fund – with applications for financial year 2026-27 closing on 16 December.”