Not sure where to start? The Greener Schools Index helps schools take stock and move forward with clarity and confidence, writes Helen Burge, co-chair of UKSSN Ops Group
When it comes to sustainability, getting started can feel overwhelming. Schools have a lot to juggle and there’s rarely the time or headspace to pause and map out a plan. That’s why tools like the Greener Schools Index (GSI) are so valuable, offering a simple, structured way to take stock of where you are now and show the next steps you can take.
From Listening to Action: the Greener Schools Index
The UKSSN Ops Group and Zenergi co-developed the GSI after recognising that many schools were unsure how to respond to the Department for Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy. We discovered that while 62% of schools have a designated sustainability lead or team, only 24% currently have a Climate Action Plan, one of the key requirements.
The tool is straightforward but powerful. Schools go online, answer quick questions and receive a report at the end. It highlights where they’re doing well and where there are gaps.
That report can be taken straight to governors and trustees. It becomes a tangible way to celebrate wins and make a case for further action, even when budgets and staff time are tight.
What I also love about the GSI is how Zenergi have summarised all the data into one 2025 GSI Report, holding a mirror up to the education sector at a point in time, which allows schools to benchmark their own progress against a national picture.
Using the GSI to Shape Your Climate Action Plan
Completing the GSI is just the first step, but it’s a crucial one as it generates a bespoke report. This gives you a ready-made starting point for your Climate Action Plan (CAP), which every school must have in place by the end of 2025.
Rather than simply flagging gaps, the GSI summarises them clearly, helping you see where more information is needed or who within your school or trust you might need to involve. By working through the report notes, you can quickly see which areas need prioritising in your CAP, turning what might feel like a daunting task into a manageable next step.
New Support is Available
Zenergi then offers additional support in the CAP process through their Accelerate and Transform services. Both are specifically designed to make the process easier for schools:
- Accelerate turns the GSI results into a tailored report with recommended next steps. Schools can prioritise actions in their own way and Zenergi checks in a few months later to offer further guidance.
- Transform goes deeper, including site-specific assessments, carbon calculations and ongoing expert support to keep everything on track.
What matters is that both options are designed around your real-world problems and needs, with a genuine want to help you embed sustainability into daily operations and support the shift from insight to action.
Why External Expertise Matters
Schools already face intense pressures on budgets and capacity. Designing a Climate Action Plan from scratch isn’t just time-consuming, it often requires expertise schools simply don’t have in-house. Having a trusted partner to guide the process makes all the difference.
The GSI helps schools understand where they are now, while their CAP service helps schools decide where they’re going. And Zenergi’s role, as I see it, is to make that journey as practical and supported as possible.
This is a sponsored article, brought to you by Zenergi
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