The first 100 schools across England have now installed Great British Energy solar panels in a programme that will ultimately benefit around 250 schools.

Great British Energy and the Government have targeted schools and colleges primarily clustered in areas of deprivation in the North East, West Midlands and North West, ensuring areas in most need get the support, as well as at least ten schools in each region of England.

Each region also includes a further education college which will work with the contractors appointed to promote careers in renewables. This will in turn support growth in the construction and renewables workforce. This could be through work placements, skills bootcamps and workshops.

Up to £255m will be spent to install solar panels and complementary technologies, including batteries, on around 250 schools and colleges, around 260 NHS sites and multiple military sites in future.

This follows the Education Secretary unveiling the new Education Estates Strategy, which sets out a decade of national renewal to transform schools and colleges across the country.

Minister for Education, Josh MacAlister said: “This is all part of our ten-year plan for a decade of renewal to transform the education estate so children and young people across the country are able to learn in brilliant, climate-resilient classrooms that are fit for the future.”

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