The third in our series of “You’re not alone!” articles, the UKSSN take a look at how Zenergi’s Greener Schools Index can help you
Hopefully you have already read the first of what will be a series of reports, which was published in April 2025. Based on findings from the initial pilot, it provides us with an overview of current progress from schools and trusts who completed the Index, against the DfE’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy. Its headline finding? While momentum is building, many schools are still at the start of their sustainability journey; 24% have a Climate Action Plan and 62% have a Sustainability Lead.
So, don’t feel like it’s too late to act, we’re in this together and can support each other.
Energy – The Major Challenge
What the Zenergi report showed us was that energy remains a major challenge. This isn’t really surprising, 70% of schools surveyed rely on ageing gas boilers and inefficient heating systems. We know the capital funding to replace these isn’t straight forward and there are multiple competitive elements on schools’ demands for that capital funding.
There is hope though, a third of schools have already begun transitioning to renewables. You’re not one of those schools? Don’t despair. Before investing in big-ticket renewables, schools could focus on efficiency. Simple measures – draught-proofing, insulation, optimising heating schedules – can deliver quick wins. These simple measures were evidenced in the report as many schools have embraced low-cost, high-impact actions: LED lighting upgrades, smart meters and basic insulation improvements. Interestingly, schools that invested in behaviour change campaigns – encouraging staff and students to switch off lights, reduce waste and manage heating sensibly – reported carbon savings of up to 15% without major capital investment.
Building a solid foundation of efficiency makes future renewable investments more effective. Investing in smart metering, energy dashboards and regular reporting cycles is critical. Data-driven schools can spot problems early, demonstrate progress to stakeholders and refine their strategies based on real evidence. Having real-time visibility enables quicker responses to issues and better strategic planning. However, only 40% of schools surveyed were actively monitoring their energy use beyond basic billing.
Student Engagement is Key
One of the most powerful insights is the role of students. Schools with active eco-committees and sustainability champions showed faster and more meaningful progress. Involving young people not only educates the next generation but builds a culture of accountability and innovation, environmental thinking is embedded into the school’s DNA.
Isolation Avoidance
We know that the DfE’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy states all schools are required to have a Sustainability Leader in 2025, but we also know that sustainability can’t happen in isolation. School leaders should build partnerships and collaborations with other school leaders, maybe within their trust, local authority or other regional group. The collaboration brings skills, knowledge and expertise, might signpost to additional financial support, and reduces the burden on internal staff. Lean into the UKSSN Ops Group, your online national network of Sustainability Leaders sharing ideas and support via our website, weekly newsletter and monthly network meetings.
Skills Update
Many completing the GSI felt isolated in navigating the complex landscape of grants, green technologies and policy expectations. The report calls for sustainability to be recognised as a core leadership competency. This has previously been recognised by ISBL, who with support from UKSSN Ops Group have launched a Sustainability addendum to their Professional Standards (see last month’s article in this series for more information). Skills gaps identified included energy management, carbon literacy and sustainable procurement.
Next Steps
For school leaders, the Zenergi report is both a validation of hard work to date and a roadmap for the future. If your school has not completed the Greener Schools Index yet, then set aside some time to do this. By completing it you will be able reflect on your school’s current position and identify areas of development which can form the basis of your Climate Action Plan. Which means you will then be able to create clear and achievable goals like “reduce energy consumption by 10% in 12 months” or “install solar panels by 2027.”
Just think of the impact of the reduction in costs on your budget! It will also help contribute to providing an overall picture of progress and gaps that we need to collectively address. If your school or trust needs to update their Greener Schools Index, contact Zenergi and they will update your index.
When the next report is due out later this year, it will be great to see more schools making progress with their Climate Action Plans. There’s still a long road ahead. For schools, sustainability is no longer a “nice-to-have” – it’s a core part of running a successful, future-focused organisation.
The tools are there. The challenge now is to act.
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