A principal whose school cannot afford textbooks said the government’s new energy grant is not enough to solve the crisis.
Vic Goddard is leader of a trust made up of four schools in Harlow, Essex, which are struggling with energy bills.
“Unfortunately, there will be nowhere near resolution of the funding crisis in six months, let alone when it stops,” he said.
The government said the support package would be reviewed in three months.
Ministers said the six-month scheme would equate to a monthly saving of £4,000 for a school paying £10,000 a month on energy.
But Mr Goddard, leader of the cooperative learning community Passmores, said the time limit meant continued uncertainty for schools, which were also hit by an unfunded staff pay premium.
Most teachers’ salaries in England will rise by 5% this year, which schools will have to pay from existing budgets, leaving the Trust with a deficit of around £500,000 before additional energy costs.
As a result, the foundation has had to stop subsidizing school trips, outfitting students with laptops, buying new textbooks, and replacing employees who are leaving.
“The fact is that energy costs are only part of the funding problem facing schools,” Goddard said.
“Unfunded wage increases have always been the biggest additional cost, with most schools spending between 80% and 90% on wages.
“That, compounded by years of real funding cuts, makes the task of balancing the books impossible for thousands of schools.”
He added: “Energy funding is just a band-aid on one of the funding issues. But it is far from enough to ensure that this generation of children has the same opportunities as young people before them.”
A spokesman for the Department of Education (DFE) said: “We understand that schools, like the wider society, will face cost pressures due to increased energy prices, which is why all schools will benefit from the Energy Effort Program, which limits what schools need to spend on their energy and give them more budget security over the winter months.
“Funding for core schools will increase by 4 billion this year compared to 2021-22 Energy-related services.”
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