Northern Ireland Schools Told to Layer Up as Energy Bills Set to Soar by £8m

Schools across Northern Ireland are being advised to ask staff and pupils to put on extra clothing when temperatures drop, rather than turning up the heating, as part of a wider effort to rein in spiralling energy costs. The guidance comes from the Education Authority (EA), which has written to head teachers warning that school gas and electricity bills are on course to rise sharply over the coming financial year.

The EA has instructed schools to cut back on heating and lighting "wherever possible," acknowledging that the financial pressure facing the sector is significant. According to the authority, school energy bills are expected to climb by approximately £8m by March 2027, a figure that has prompted urgent calls for schools to review how much power they consume on a daily basis.

In its letter to principals, the EA pointed to global events as a key driver behind the increases, stating that "recent geopolitical events are expected to have a substantial impact on energy costs" during the 2026/27 financial year. The conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran has been identified as one of the factors contributing to rising energy prices, which are already placing strain on households throughout Northern Ireland.

The projected figures are stark. School gas bills are anticipated to jump by 60%, rising from £10.7m to £17m by March 2027. Electricity costs, meanwhile, are expected to increase by 5%, moving from £23.8m to £25.1m over the same period. The EA described the scale of these anticipated increases as the reason behind its request for all schools to examine their energy usage and find ways to reduce consumption.

Among the practical measures suggested to schools are reducing heating by one hour each day and relying more on natural daylight by switching off classroom lights. Perhaps most notably, the authority has advised that staff and pupils should "wear more clothes" instead of adjusting the thermostat upwards when they feel cold. The suggestion has drawn attention to the difficult balancing act schools face between managing budgets and maintaining comfortable learning environments.

However, head teachers have been quick to point out that cutting energy costs is far from straightforward. Kirsty Logan-Hall, principal of Tullygally Primary School in Craigavon, explained that while her school is committed to responsible energy consumption and regularly reinforces good practice among staff and pupils, its ability to make significant reductions is limited by the nature of its buildings.

She noted that the school operates from an older building that presents inherent energy efficiency challenges. In addition, the site is spread out due to the accommodation and operational needs associated with its specialist provision, meaning multiple areas must be heated, lit and kept in use throughout the school day to ensure appropriate learning environments, accessibility and pupil welfare. Logan-Hall emphasised that there is only limited room to cut energy use without negatively affecting the quality of provision, staff working conditions or the wellbeing of pupils, including those with additional needs.

Emma Quinn, from Rathcoole Primary, also voiced frustration, telling BBC Good Morning Ulster that a "lack of maintenance" has contributed to the problem. She stressed that pupils have a right to enter a warm school after being outside, and argued that placing this pressure on schools at short notice is unreasonable. Quinn pointed out that many schools are already eco-conscious, taking steps such as turning off lights, yet they are suddenly being asked to fix a problem that is systemic in nature.

Claire Robinson, principal of Holy Evangelists Primary School in Dunmurry, described the energy costs as "ferocious." She explained that heating cannot simply be switched off in certain parts of the school. Some areas of the building are relatively new and feature underfloor heating, and classrooms must not drop below a certain temperature, meaning the heating has to stay on. Robinson added that despite the school being relatively modern, it has been given an energy efficiency rating of D because of the costs involved in running its heating system.

The situation reflects a broader challenge facing public services as energy prices remain volatile. Schools are being asked to find savings at a time when their budgets are already stretched, and the EA's guidance highlights the extent to which external factors — including international conflict — can ripple through to affect daily life in classrooms. While the advice to wear more layers may seem simple, it underscores the difficult choices being made as institutions try to absorb rising costs without compromising the education and welfare of children.

The EA's letter makes clear that the anticipated increases are substantial enough to require collective action across the school estate. By asking schools to identify opportunities to reduce consumption, the authority hopes to mitigate some of the financial impact. Yet principals have made clear that the scope for savings varies widely depending on the age, design and layout of each school building, as well as the specific needs of their pupils.

For now, schools across Northern Ireland are left navigating a difficult path: cutting costs where they can, while ensuring that children remain warm, safe and able to learn. The coming months will test how effectively the sector can adapt to rising bills without diminishing the quality of education or the wellbeing of those who work and study within its walls.