Net Zero Advice for Schools
In 2020 General Synod for the Church of England made a declaration to ‘work to achieve year on-year reductions in emissions and urgently examine what would be required to reach net zero emissions by 2030 in order that a plan of action can be drawn up to achieve that target’.
At the Diocese Board of Education, we are stepping up to this challenge and are seeking to inspire and to encourage all of our schools to sign up to this vision of Net Zero Carbon for the benefit of the whole community and to enable the planet to flourish for future generations. Reducing energy use will also reduce your costs, freeing up money for other purposes.
Together we can improve our schools!
Three simple ways to get started
- Make a declaration and nominate a sustainability lead [Let’s Go Zero]
- Assess your school’s current approach and consumption of resources [Count Your Carbon]
- Create a climate action plan with the use of this [execution plan] and checklist [practical path]
Guidance on how to go about these three actions (and much more) is available from the Church of England Education Office here
The UK Department of Education has also stated their expectation for the above actions to be in place by the end of 2025.
Help is at hand
We have a team available to help you on your Net Zero Carbon journey.
Brian Kilkelly, Net Zero project Officer – Schools is your first point of call for all things Net Zero and is available on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday to provide you support. Contact Brian at brian.kilkelly@chichester.anglican.org
Heather Broadbent, Capital Assets Programme Manager is available Monday to Thursday and can be contacted at heather.broadbent@chichester.anglican.org
Steve Collins leads our Net Zero work for the wider Diocesan Net Zero programme and is available at steve.collins@chichester.anglican.org
Great things are happening!
One of the most significant actions you can take is to replace any fossil fuel based heating systems with a low carbon alternative such as a heat pump. Cowfold CE Primary School has done this successfully. Read their story here. We are also working with schools in Ashurst, Bury, and Pulborough to install heat pumps next year thanks to a successful bid to the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS3c). We are exploring another bid to this funding to support more schools in 2026 (PSDS4). Do get in touch if this is of interest to you.
Not sure where to start or want to go further? Simply email Brian at brian.kilkelly@chichester.anglican.org and he will guide you through the first steps or signpost you to further resources and ideas.
Reducing emissions from schools | The Church of England
Fundraising for Net Zero Carbon and the Environment | The Church of England