UNDER fire education chiefs in Powys need to show “leadership”, a senior councillor has said.

It emerged earlier this week that being taught online for one day a week was amongst a number of ideas for Powys County Council schools to consider to help deal with spiralling energy costs.

Other ideas included not filling vacant posts – with staff expected to cover the workload, and children wearing coats in school.

The details emerged after by Cllr Berley Baynham asked questions to the cabinet member for Education, Cllr Pete Roberts on the financial issues facing schools.

On the possibility of online learning, Cllr Roberts said: “We did suggest the possibility of four-day week; with a fifth day being taught virtually as well as blended weeks of learning as extreme cases for consideration.”

But Cllr Roberts stressed that there no “clear directive” would be given to schools to do this.

The decision is one for headteachers and school governors to make if the need to.

Since his comments were made public, Cllr Roberts has come in for heavy criticism from the Powys public and politicians.

Conservative group leader, Cllr Aled Davies said: “Cllr Roberts needs to show leadership, to make these suggestions and then walk away as if it’s nothing to do with him is simply not acceptable.”

Cllr Davies pointed out that education watchdog, Estyn, in their annual report for 2021/22 had been “very clear” about the negative impacts that online learning had on children.

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Cllr Davies said: “There will clearly be further impacts on the family, especially if both parents work, there would potentially be additional heating and food costs and no access to hot free school meals.

“The impact on teachers must not be forgotten, they are currently working extremely hard.

“To increase their workload even further due to covering for unfilled vacancies is dangerous.”

“The cabinet member really should have thought his ideas through.”

Cllr Davies who was finance portfolio holder and deputy council leader up to last May’s local election said that school finances are in a “healthier position” now than they were five years ago.

He has also been asking for more detail on future school funding plans and wants to know “how much” the education budget will be cut next year.

Plaid Cymru group leader Cllr Elwyn Vaughan said: “After suffering and losing out so much during covid – our young people are proposed to lose out yet again by the Lib Dem led administration.

“Plaid Cymru councillors will oppose this move.”

Cabinet member for education, Cllr Pete Roberts said: “We expect to see the full impact of energy price rises over the next financial year and it is essential that schools are aware of the potential severity of the situation they face in preparing their budgets.

“That is why officers prepared a financial management toolkit for schools containing detailed budgetary comparison data and ideas on how to reduce costs around the school of which this is one.

“Schools need to know that in the most extreme cases this option is something they can consider as a proposal for discussion with the schools service.

“Ultimately it is a decision and responsibility for individual head teachers and governing bodies to manage school budgets.”