English schools to cut energy bills with solar panel rollout

17 November 2025

More than 250 schools in England are set to install solar panels, a move expected to reduce energy costs and free up funds for teaching and resources.

Twenty-three schools have already received panels from Great British Energy, including Notre Dame RC School in Plymouth and Christ The King RC Primary School in Manchester. These schools report that the savings are being reinvested into education.

The scheme, funded jointly by Great British Energy and the government, targets schools and colleges with buildings suitable for solar panels, particularly in areas of higher deprivation in the North East, West Midlands, and North West. Each region will also involve a further education college, offering students opportunities in renewable energy through work placements, workshops, and skills programmes.

Rising energy costs have put pressure on school budgets, and the panels are designed to allow schools to generate their own electricity, potentially saving millions over time.

Schools are also being encouraged to develop climate action plans and involve pupils through Youth Sustainability Champions. Curriculum changes are introducing more climate and sustainability education across subjects from primary school to the new Natural History GCSE.

Officials say the programme supports broader goals including energy security, local job creation and climate resilience for public buildings. All new schools are being designed to be net-zero in operation under the School Rebuilding Programme.