SCHOOL bosses have met with Witham’s MP amid concerns over rising energy costs on their budgets.

Representatives from some of mid Essex’s main school trusts met with former Home Secretary Priti Patel.

The representatives came from the Saffron Academy Trust, Eveleigh LINK Academy Trust, Attain Academy Trust and individual schools such as Honywood in Coggeshall and Maltings Academy in Witham.

The trusts cover primary and secondary schools around mid Essex, including Braintree, Halstead, Witham, the Maldon district and Dunmow.

The roundtable talks were called by Ms Patel following several “concerning representations”.

In the meeting, they discussed the financial deficits academies and trusts are facing due to rising energy costs.

Also discussed was the recent 8.9 per cent rise in starting teachers’ salaries outside London, the five per cent rise for experienced teachers and further rises of between five per cent and eight per cent depending on experience along with the rest of the main pay range.

Ms Patel says the discussion covered specific concerns raised by each school relating to their ability to deliver a core service from existing school budgets for this academic year and beyond.

She said: “I convened this meeting following a number of concerning representations I have received in recent months from local academy trusts.

“I want to ensure that our local schools have all the support required to provide the essential support and care for pupils alongside the outstanding education they bring to Witham schools.

“I have recently pressed the issue of deficits in school budgets due to the current economic conditions with the new Secretary of State for the Department for Education and I am pressing for essential meetings with representatives of the Government and Essex-based academy trusts.

 “As the Covid pandemic demonstrated, our schools are the heart and soul of our communities and provide so much support to local pupils, covering their personal development, life skills, well-being and safeguarding in addition to an outstanding education.

“I will work with all aspects of government to ensure collectively we can achieve the best possible outcomes for local pupils and our schools.”