Millions of pounds were spent on energy for schools in North and West Cumbria over the past academic year, new figures show.

Amid last year's soaring gas and electricity prices, separate analysis suggests a significant proportion of school buildings across the country are suffering from poor energy efficiency, despite some improvement in recent years.

Figures from the Department for Education show £4.55 million was spent on energy for local authority-run schools in North and West Cumbria in the 2022-23 academic year which saw both the former Cumbria County Council and the new Cumberland Council in charge. 

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Across England, expenditure on energy for local authority-maintained schools hit £485 million in 2022-23 – a 61 per cent increase on the year before, when £302 million was spent.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We know that schools have faced increased energy bills. We took account of this and made additional investment in total school funding to cover costs – a £4 billion increase in 2022-23, and a further £3.9 billion this year.

"School funding is rising to more than £59.6 billion next year – the highest ever level in real terms per pupil."