Soaring petrol prices to have 'huge consequences for teachers and schools'

Soaring petrol prices to have 'huge consequences for teachers and schools'The closing of the Strait of Hormuz — through which approximately 25% of the world's oil travels — by Iran in response to the ongoing war with the US and Israel has led to a rise in fuel costsNewsBradley Jolly Overnight News Editor04:51, 21 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesThere are calls to give teachers key worker cards for petrol (file image)(Image: Richard Drury/Getty)Teachers should get key worker fuel cards if petrol runs short or soars in price, the leader of an academy trust says.‌Tom Campbell, chief executive of E-ACT, which has 38 schools and 3,500 staff, also warned the cost of providing free school meals could rise sharply and described the situation as the single biggest external risk to school budgets in England, which could exacerbate the chance of teacher strikes over pay.‌But yesterday he called on the government to give special priority to teachers during the war in the Middle East. Mr Campbell added: "If you run a school or a trust, that matters and it matters across more budget lines than you might think. If your energy contract was locked in during 2024 or early 2025, you are protected for now. Wholesale prices were falling then and many schools and trusts secured reasonable rates. If yours is due for renewal in the coming months, the market has transformed.‌"Gas is nearly double what it was in February, with electricity following closely behind. For a large multi-academy trust running 30-plus schools, energy costs can easily run to £3 million to £5 million a year."READ MORE: Married boarding school teacher bombards teenage schoolgirl with 'weird' late-night textsREAD MORE: UK parents reveal the 'village' needed to raise kids - as 1 in 10 have no supportView 2 ImagesPrices at the pump continue to rise (file image)(Image: Getty Images)‌Mr Campbell, who worked at schools including as headteacher for 20 years, said a 30 per cent increase...