Pupils and teachers in London and across the UK are to help schools around the country to make the best use of their resources, it has been reported.

Children’s secretary Ed Balls suggested that staff with teaching jobs and pupils could help schools save money by considering their electricity usage, for example.

To help in this goal, a total of £12 million has been earmarked to introduce smart meters into schools so that electricity usage can be monitored.

Headteachers, governing bodies and local authorities will also be asked to work together to make the best use of taxpayers’ money in schools.

He suggested, for example, collective buying and better use of technology to make the best use of funds and shared services between schools.

Schools are also being encouraged to sign up to the Schools Recruitment Service to help them save time and money when recruiting teaching staff.

"It is in order to get the maximum value from every pound we spend on the school system that I am taking the unprecedented step of promoting a national debate with schools, school leaders and their colleagues about what steps we can all take to ensure the best use of our school resources in the coming years," Mr Balls stated.

In other news from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, there was a 21.6 per cent decrease in the number of young people entering the criminal justice system last year.