SCHOOLS are being stung for thousands of pounds a year to keep playing-field grass under an inch high.
They are obliged to pay soaring maintenance charges under the terms of private finance initiative contracts used to erect the buildings.
One in Liverpool has to fork out thousands every year to keep its grass below 2.5cm because of the watertight finance agreement negotiated years ago.
David Potter, head at Middlefield Primary, said almost 20 per cent of his budget goes on meeting ever-rising PFI contract obligations for catering, maintenance and cleaning.
He said: “Come rain or shine every week, the grounds maintenance team come out and they cut this field.
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“We should have the freedom to say, actually, we think we can do without.”
PFIs were introduced in 1992 by Conservative PM John Major and scrapped in 2018.
But they tied schools for decades into inflation-linked maintenance deals until the taxpayer debt is fully repaid.
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “Taxpayers will wonder who put pen to paper on these silly specifications.
“The private sector has a role to play in delivering services, but the public sector is often asleep at the wheel when agreeing contracts.
“More care needs to be taken when signing these deals.”
The Department for Education says it’s boosting support for PFI schools by 10.4 per cent.
