A West Belfast primary school principal has criticised advice from the Education Authority (EA) urging schools to reduce energy consumption by asking pupils and staff to wear more clothes.

Conor Murphy, principal of Holy Child Primary School in Andersonstown, said the suggestion goes against the basic rights expected for children. He received the email along with other principals on Wednesday.

The EA has warned that school gas and electricity bills are set to rise by about £8 million by March 2027. In an email to schools, it asked them to review energy usage and identify savings. Suggested measures included cutting heating use by an hour a day, switching off lights to use natural daylight, and wearing more clothes instead of turning up the thermostat.

Murphy said schools already teach pupils about responsible resource use, but treating energy saving as cutting services is poor. He noted many families are struggling with the cost of living and want their children in a comfortable, well-resourced, caring environment.

"The idea that children should come and sit with a coat on has a clear disconnect with the reality, for some parents who may not be able to provide a coat in the first place," he said.

Murphy added that schools will keep heating on, citing a legal responsibility to maintain certain temperatures in winter. He called on the EA to focus on funding and prioritisation, keeping the child at the centre.

Ulster Unionist Party education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA also criticised the advice. He said telling children to put on another jumper is not a serious answer to financial pressures. He noted many schools enforce uniform policies that do not permit coats, and for pupils with sensory difficulties, additional layers can be uncomfortable or intolerable.

Burrows said the EA should revise guidance to recognise diverse needs. He also criticised the Department of Education for not engaging with the Education Committee, with the Permanent Secretary not appearing before it on the day. He said parents, pupils and school leaders deserve serious solutions rather than advice to wear extra clothes.