PRESS RELEASE : Schools to cut bills with Great British Energy solar panels [November 2025]

The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 17 November 2025.

Schools across England to cut bills with Great British Energy solar panels.

• 23 schools have now installed Great British Energy solar panels and are cutting their energy bills with clean, homegrown power
• Full list announced of over 250 schools across England that are set to benefit from Great British Energy and UK government funding for solar panels
• Millions in savings will be reinvested into education

Pupils across the country will benefit from more money for textbooks and teaching, as Great British Energy’s solar rollout continues to help schools cut their energy bills.

As part of an expanded scheme to fund solar panels for NHS sites, military sites and schools, over 250 schools across England have signed agreements to benefit from a share of up to £100 million in funding from Great British Energy and government for new solar panels and other energy efficiency measures.

23 schools have now installed Great British Energy solar panels and are cutting their energy bills, from Notre Dame RC School in Plymouth to Christ The King RC Primary School in Manchester. This has allowed savings to be reinvested in school services as part of the government’s clean energy superpower mission, enabling communities to reap the benefits of homegrown, clean power.

This is part of the government’s drive to make all public buildings more climate resilient. The government is building all new schools to be climate-resilient and net-zero in operation as part of the School Rebuilding Programme. 

Rocketing energy bills in recent years have eaten into school budgets. This has been driven by the UK’s dependency on global fossil fuel markets over which government has no control. By enabling schools to generate their own electricity, it is estimated schools will save millions, far more than installation costs.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said:   

Great British Energy is helping schools to save money on bills, meaning more money for textbooks and technology.  

Across the country, solar panels are going up on rooftops to power classrooms with clean, homegrown power.   

This is our clean energy superpower mission in action, protecting our public services with lower bills and energy security.

Great British Energy’s CEO, Dan McGrail said:   

Great British Energy’s ongoing solar rollout delivers tangible benefits to the people that need it most in our hospitals and schools. 

This not only provides clean energy to communities, it also ensures that the public own and benefit from these projects through energy security, good jobs and above all, real tangible local outcomes such as more funds to support teaching and health.

Education Minister Josh MacAlister said:    

Solar panels are slashing schools’ energy bills by thousands of pounds year after year, with the money going straight back into the textbooks and resources pupils need to succeed. 

This is part of our wider work to drive national renewal, rebuilding more than 750 schools in every corner of the country.

The scheme will target schools and colleges with buildings that are able to accommodate solar panels in areas of England most in need. As part of this, the government has selected schools that will be primarily clustered in areas of deprivation in the North East, West Midlands and North West, as well as at least 10 schools in each region of England.

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

This follows the government’s commitment to curriculum reforms which will strengthen climate and sustainability education across geography, science, citizenship, and design and technology – from year one through to a new Natural History GCSE – helping to ensure pupils understand the planet, take action on climate change and develop the skills for a greener future.   

This is alongside all nurseries, schools and colleges being called upon to put in place a climate action plan, while empowering young voices through Youth Sustainability Champions to help advise, evaluate and champion sustainability in education. 

The rollout of these solar panels marks progress in Great British Energy and government’s Local Power Plan that will ensure the benefits of the government’s clean energy mission are felt at a local level, with energy security, good jobs and economic growth – while also helping to rebuild the nation’s public services.

Mark Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Bellevue Place Education Trust, London said:  

We are delighted to have Kilburn Grange School and Halley House School enrolled in the Great British Energy’s solar programme in addition to other Bellevue Place Education Trust schools. Last year, all our schools collectively achieved a 9.4% reduction in energy consumption, saving £299K in energy bills, which we can invest back into the education provision for our pupils.

Nicola Malone, Head Teacher of Christ the King Roman Catholic Primary School, Salford said:    

We are very proud that Christ the King is benefitting from the Great British Energy Solar Partnership programme. The solar installation will make a lasting difference for our school, whilst showing our children the value of sustainability and emphasising our shared responsibility for the world around us.

Notes to editors 

We are announcing 255 schools, these are subject to site surveys and may change:

School name	Postcode	Local authority	Region	Complete?
Bishop Lonsdale Church of England Primary School and Nursery	DE22 3HH	Derby	East Midlands
Lees Brook Academy	DE21 4QX	Derby	East Midlands
Sharley Park Community Primary School	S45 9BN	Derbyshire	East Midlands
Clowne Junior School	S43 4BS	Derbyshire	East Midlands
Castle Mead Academy	LE3 5QT	Leicester	East Midlands
Melton Vale Sixth Form College	LE13 1DN	Leicestershire	East Midlands
The Joseph Whitaker School	NG21 0AG	Mansfield	East Midlands
St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School	NN3 2AX	Northampton	East Midlands
Firbeck Academy	NG8 2FB	Nottingham	East Midlands
Bluecoat Beechdale Academy	NG8 3GP	Nottingham	East Midlands
The Bulwell Academy	NG6 8AQ	Nottingham	East Midlands
The Suthers School	NG24 3NH	Nottinghamshire	East Midlands
Samworth Church Academy	NG18 2DY	Nottinghamshire	East Midlands
Carlton Academy	NG4 3SH	Nottinghamshire	East Midlands
Northampton Academy	NN3 8NH	West Northamptonshire	East Midlands
St Marys C of E Academy	SG5 4DL	Central Bedfordshire	East of England	Complete
Roydon Primary Academy	CM19 5HN	Essex	East of England	Complete
Avanti Meadows Primary School	CM23 1FQ	Hertfordshire	East of England
Manor Drive Primary Academy	PE4 7EP	Peterborough	East of England
Manor Drive Secondary Academy	PE4 7EP	Peterborough	East of England
Westfield Primary Academy	CB9 0BW	Suffolk	East of England	Complete
Kedington Primary Academy	CB9 7QZ	Suffolk	East of England
Laureate Community Academy	CB8 0AN	Suffolk	East of England
Place Farm Primary Academy	CB9 8HF	Suffolk	East of England
Harris Academy Chafford Hundred	RM16 6SA	Thurrock	East of England	Complete
Harris Garrard Academy	DA18 4DW	Bexley	London
Kilburn Grange School	NW6 7UJ	Brent	London	Complete
Harris Primary Shortlands	BR2 0HG	Bromley	London
Harris City Academy Crystal Palace	SE19 2JH	Croydon	London	Complete
Harris Primary Academy Benson	CR0 8RQ	Croydon	London
Halley House School	E8 2DJ	Hackney	London	Complete
St Mark’s Church of England Academy	CR4 1SF	Merton	London
St Helen’s Catholic Primary School	E13 8DW	Newham	London
Harris Academy Bermondsey	SE16 3TZ	Southwark	London
City of London Academy (Southwark)	SE1 5LA	Southwark	London
Culloden Primary	E14 0PT	Tower Hamlets	London
Mowlem Primary School	E2 9HE	Tower Hamlets	London
St John’s Catholic School & Sixth Form College	DL14 6JT	County Durham	North East
Bowburn Primary School	DH6 5FP	County Durham	North East
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Blackhill	DH8 8JD	County Durham	North East
Prince Bishops Community Primary School	DL14 8DY	County Durham	North East
Howletch Lane Primary School	SR8 2NQ	County Durham	North East
Durham Gilesgate Primary School	DH1 1PH	County Durham	North East
Newker Primary School	DH2 3AA	County Durham	North East
Oakley Cross Primary School and Nursery	DL14 9UD	County Durham	North East
Ropery Walk Primary School	SR7 7JZ	County Durham	North East
Westlea Primary School	SR7 8JU	County Durham	North East
Ebchester CofE Primary School	DH8 0QB	County Durham	North East
St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School, Crook	DL15 9DN	County Durham	North East
St Bede’s Catholic School and Sixth Form College	DH7 0RD	County Durham	North East
West Cornforth Primary School	DL17 9HP	County Durham	North East
St John’s Church of England Aided Primary School	DL4 2EQ	County Durham	North East
Wyvern Academy	DL3 9SH	Darlington	North East
Cardinal Hume Catholic School, Gateshead	NE9 6RZ	Gateshead	North East
Brougham Primary School	TS24 8EY	Hartlepool	North East
West View Primary School	TS24 9BP	Hartlepool	North East
Lynnfield Primary School	TS26 8RL	Hartlepool	North East
St Hild’s Church of England School	TS24 9PB	Hartlepool	North East
Corpus Christi RC Primary School	TS3 8NL	Middlesbrough	North East
St Alphonsus’ Catholic Primary School	TS3 6PX	Middlesbrough	North East
Middlesborough College	TS2 1AD	Middlesbrough	North East
St Gerard’s RC Primary School	TS8 9HU	Middlesbrough	North East
Sunnyside Academy	TS8 0RJ	Middlesbrough	North East
Tyneview Primary	NE6 3QP	Newcastle upon Tyne	North East
Gosforth Academy	NE3 2JH	Newcastle upon Tyne	North East
Chillingham Rd Primary School	NE6 5XX	Newcastle upon Tyne	North East
Riverside Primary School	NE29 6DQ	North Tyneside	North East
Benton Dene Primary School	NE12 8FD	North Tyneside	North East
St Thomas More Roman  Catholic High School	NE29 8LF	North Tyneside	North East
The Blyth Academy	NE24 4JP	Northumberland	North East
Bede Academy	NE24 2SY	Northumberland	North East
Jarrow Cross CofE Primary School	NE32 5UW	South Tyneside	North East
Hebburn Lakes Primary School	NE31 2SL	South Tyneside	North East
Westoe Crown Primary School	NE33 3NS	South Tyneside	North East
Mortimer Community College	NE33 4UG	South Tyneside	North East
Fairfield Primary School	TS19 7PW	Stockton-on-Tees	North East
Thornaby Academy	TS17 9DB	Stockton-on-Tees	North East
Christ’s College	SR4 8PG	Sunderland	North East
New Silksworth Academy Junior	SR3 1AS	Sunderland	North East
Venerable Bede Church of England Academy	SR2 0SX	Sunderland	North East
Unity Academy Blackpool	FY2 0TS	Blackpool	North West
Blackpool Gateway Academy	FY1 6JH	Blackpool	North West
St George’s School A Church of England Academy	FY4 4PH	Blackpool	North West
Marton Primary Academy and Nursery	FY4 5LY	Blackpool	North West
St James CofE Primary School, Farnworth	BL4 9QB	Bolton	North West
Acton C of E Primary Academy	CW5 8LG	Cheshire	North West	Complete
Broken Cross Primary Academy and Nursery	SK11 8UD	Cheshire East	North West
The Fallibroome Academy	SK10 4AF	Cheshire East	North West
Upton Priory School	SK10 3ED	Cheshire East	North West
The County High School, Leftwich	CW9 8EZ	Cheshire West and Chester	North West
Newtown Primary School	CA2 7LW	Cumberland	North West
Petteril Bank School	CA1 3BX	Cumberland	North West
The Whitehaven Academy	CA28 8TY	Cumberland	North West
Park Brow Community Primary School	L32 6QH	Knowsley	North West
Malvern Primary School	L14 6XA	Knowsley	North West
Brownedge St Mary’s Catholic High School	PR5 6PB	Lancashire	North West
Morecambe and Heysham Westgate Primary School	LA4 4XF	Lancashire	North West
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School	WN8 9AZ	Lancashire	North West
Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School, Hyndburn	BB5 0LU	Lancashire	North West
Charles Saer Community Primary School	FY7 8DD	Lancashire	North West
Four Oaks Community Primary School	L5 1XP	Liverpool	North West
Croxteth Community Primary School	L11 0BP	Liverpool	North West
Stockton Wood Community Primary School	L24 3TF	Liverpool	North West
North Liverpool Academy	L5 0SQ	Liverpool	North West
The Trinity Catholic Academy	L5 8UT	Liverpool	North West
Dixons Croxteth Academy	L11 4SG	Liverpool	North West
Benchill Primary School	M22 8EJ	Manchester	North West	Complete
Ladybarn Primary School	M20 4SR	Manchester	North West
Whalley Range 11-18 High School	M16 8GW	Manchester	North West
Christ The King RC Primary School Manchester	M40 1LU	Manchester	North West	Complete
Dixons Brooklands Academy	M23 9BP	Manchester	North West	Complete
The East Manchester Academy	M11 3DS	Manchester	North West
Co-op Academy Belle Vue	M12 4BA	Manchester	North West
Co-op Academy Medlock	M13 9UJ	Manchester	North West
Cravenwood Primary Academy	M8 5AE	Manchester	North West
Manchester Academy	M14 4PX	Manchester	North West
Oasis Academy Aspinal	M18 7NY	Manchester	North West
Horton Mill Community Primary School	OL4 1GL	Oldham	North West
Oasis Academy Leesbrook	OL4 5JE	Oldham	North West
Littlemoor Primary School	OL4 2RR	Oldham	North West
Lyndhurst Primary and Nursery School	OL8 4JD	Oldham	North West
Oasis Academy Clarksfield	OL4 1NG	Oldham	North West
Oasis Academy Oldham	OL8 4JZ	Oldham	North West
Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School	M24 2GL	Rochdale	North West
The Albion Academy	M6 6QT	Salford	North West
Dukesgate Academy	M38 9HF	Salford	North West
Co-op Academy Swinton	M27 6JU	Salford	North West
Litherland High School	L21 0DB	Sefton	North West
Litherland Moss Primary School	L21 0DB	Sefton	North West
Cowley International College	WA10 6PN	St. Helens	North West
The Sutton Academy	WA9 5AU	St. Helens	North West
Tameside College	OL6 6NX	Tameside	North West
The Heys Primary School	OL6 9NS	Tameside	North West
Greenfield Primary Academy	SK14 1QD	Tameside	North West
Laurus Ryecroft	M43 7LJ	Tameside	North West
Oasis Academy Broadoak	OL6 8QG	Tameside	North West
Lime Tree Primary Academy	M33 2RP	Trafford	North West	Complete
Broadoak School	M31 4BU	Trafford	North West
Lostock High School	M32 9PL	Trafford	North West
Padgate Academy	WA2 0LN	Warrington	North West
Beamont Collegiate Academy	WA2 8PX	Warrington	North West
Dallam Community Primary School	WA5 0JG	Warrington	North West
Meadowside Community Primary and Nursery School	WA2 9PH	Warrington	North West
Priestley College	WA4 6RD	Warrington	North West
Kirkby Stephen Grammar School	CA17 4HA	Westmorland and Furness	North West
St Gabriel’s Catholic Primary School	WN7 2XG	Wigan	North West
St Mary’s Catholic College	CH45 3LN	Wirral	North West
Woodchurch High School	CH49 7NG	Wirral	North West
Co-op Academy Hillside	CH43 9HG	Wirral	North West
Co-op Academy Portland	CH41 0AB	Wirral	North West
The Island Free School	PO38 1BG	Isle of Wight	South East
Goodwin Academy	CT14 9BD	Kent	South East
Burnt Oak Primary School	ME7 1LS	Medway	South East
Oasis Academy Skinner Street	ME7 1LG	Medway	South East
Charles Warren Academy	MK6 3AZ	Milton Keynes	South East	Complete
The Milton Keynes Academy	MK6 5LA	Milton Keynes	South East
Iqra Slough Islamic Primary School	SL2 5FF	Slough	South East
Rickley Park Primary School	MK3 6EW	South East	South East
Oasis Academy Sholing	SO19 8PH	Southampton	South East
Whiteknights Primary School	RG2 8EP	Wokingham	South East	Complete
Peasedown St Johns Primary School	BA2 8DH	Bath and North East Somerset	South West	Complete
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School	BH12 4DZ	Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole	South West	Complete
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Axminster	EX13 5BE	Devon	South West	Complete
St White’s Primary School	GL14 3GD	Gloucestershire	South West
All Saints’ Academy	GL51 0WH	Gloucestershire	South West
Notre Dame RC School	PL6 5HN	Plymouth	South West	Complete
St Boniface’s RC College	PL5 3AG	Plymouth	South West	Complete
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School	PL4 9BE	Plymouth	South West	Complete
Lipson Co-operative Academy	PL4 7PG	Plymouth	South West
Oliver Tomkins Church of England	SN5 8LW	Swindon	South West
Tame Valley Academy	B36 8QJ	Birmingham	West Midlands
Prince Albert High School	B42 2TU	Birmingham	West Midlands
Nelson Mandela School	B12 8EH	Birmingham	West Midlands
Ark St Alban’s Academy	B12 0YH	Birmingham	West Midlands
Bloomsbury	B7 5BX	Birmingham	West Midlands
Hallmoor (SEN school)	B33 0DL	Birmingham	West Midlands
Thornton Primary School	B8 2LQ	Birmingham	West Midlands
Richard Lee Primary School	CV2 5FU	Coventry	West Midlands
Finham Park 2	CV4 9WT	Coventry	West Midlands
Charter Academy	CV4 8DW	Coventry	West Midlands
Hill Farm Academy	CV6 3BL	Coventry	West Midlands
Moseley Primary School	CV6 1AB	Coventry	West Midlands
Potters Green Primary	CV2 2GF	Coventry	West Midlands
Dudley College	DY1 4AS	Dudley	West Midlands
Ellowes Hall Sports College	DY3 2JH	Dudley	West Midlands
Weobley High School	HR4 8ST	Herefordshire, County of	West Midlands
Weobley Primary School	HR4 8ST	Herefordshire, County of	West Midlands
Eaton Valley Primary School	B71 4BU	Sandwell	West Midlands
Bleakhouse Primary School	B68 9DS	Sandwell	West Midlands
Glebefields Primary School	DY4 0SX	Sandwell	West Midlands
Hanbury Primary School	B70 9NT	Sandwell	West Midlands
High Point (SEN school)	WS10 0JS	Sandwell	West Midlands
Oxon CofE Primary School	SY3 5BJ	Shropshire	West Midlands
Shrewsbury College	SY1 1RX	Shropshire	West Midlands
Greswold Primary School	B91 2AZ	Solihull	West Midlands
Bishop Wilson Church of England Primary School	B37 7TR	Solihull	West Midlands
Stafford Manor High School	ST17 9DJ	Staffordshire	West Midlands
Samuel Allsopp Primary and Nursery School	DE14 2LU	Staffordshire	West Midlands
Poppyfield Primary Academy	WS12 4RY	Staffordshire	West Midlands
Thistley Hough Academy	ST4 5JJ	Stoke-on-Trent	West Midlands
Ormiston Meridian Academy	ST3 7DF	Stoke-on-Trent	West Midlands
Woodloes Primary School	CV34 5DF	Warwickshire	West Midlands
All Saints Bedworth CofE Academy	CV12 9HP	Warwickshire	West Midlands
Tudor Grange Primary Academy Meon Vale	CV37 8QR	Warwickshire	West Midlands
George Eliot Academy	CV11 4QP	Warwickshire	West Midlands
Ash Green School	CV7 9AH	Warwickshire	West Midlands
Kingsbury School – Tamworth	B78 2LF	Warwickshire	West Midlands
St Michaels C of E Academy	CV12 9DA	Warwickshire	West Midlands
Ormiston SWB Academy	WV14 0LN	Wolverhampton	West Midlands
Rakegate Primary School	WV10 6US	Wolverhampton	West Midlands
Lanesfield Primary School	WV4 6BZ	Wolverhampton	West Midlands
Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School	WV14 7PD	Wolverhampton	West Midlands
Oak Meadow Primary School	WV11 2QQ	Wolverhampton	West Midlands
Ormiston NEW Academy	WV10 6SE	Wolverhampton	West Midlands
Moons Moat First School	B98 9HR	Worcestershire	West Midlands
Carnforth School	WR4 9HG	Worcestershire	West Midlands
Honeywell Primary School	WR2 5QH	Worcestershire	West Midlands
St George’s CofE School	DY10 2BX	Worcestershire	West Midlands
Hollymount School	WR4 9SG	Worcestershire	West Midlands
Wolverley CE Secondary School and Sixth Form	DY11 5XQ	Worcestershire	West Midlands
Feversham Primary Academy	BD3 9EG	Bradford	Yorkshire and the Humber	Complete
Upton Primary School	WF9 1JS	Wakefield	Yorkshire and Humber
Girlington Primary School	BD8 9NR	Bradford	Yorkshire and the Humber
Trinity Academy Akroydon	HX3 6PU	Calderdale	Yorkshire and the Humber
Trinity Academy St Peter’s	HX6 1HB	Calderdale	Yorkshire and the Humber
Trinity Academy	DN8 5BY	Doncaster	Yorkshire and the Humber
De Warenne Academy	DN12 3JY	Doncaster	Yorkshire and the Humber
Don Valley Academy	DN5 9DD	Doncaster	Yorkshire and the Humber
Marshlands Primary School	DN14 5UE	East Riding of Yorkshire	Yorkshire and the Humber
Withernsea High School	HU19 2EQ	East Riding of Yorkshire	Yorkshire and the Humber
Kingsway Primary School	DN14 5HQ	East Riding of Yorkshire	Yorkshire and the Humber
Northfield Infant School	YO25 5YN	East Riding of Yorkshire	Yorkshire and the Humber
Appleton Primary School	HU5 4PG	Kingston upon Hull, City of	Yorkshire and the Humber
Francis Askew Primary School	HU4 6LQ	Kingston upon Hull, City of	Yorkshire and the Humber
Sirius Academy North	HU6 9BP	Kingston upon Hull, City of	Yorkshire and the Humber
Aspire Academy	HU9 5DE	Kingston upon Hull, City of	Yorkshire and the Humber
Liberty Academy	HU9 5YB	Kingston upon Hull, City of	Yorkshire and the Humber
Estcourt Primary Academy	HU9 2RP	Kingston upon Hull, City of	Yorkshire and the Humber
Trinity Academy Leeds	LS9 7QL	Leeds	Yorkshire and the Humber
Cockburn School	LS11 5TT	Leeds	Yorkshire and the Humber
Oasis Academy Nunsthorpe	DN33 1AW	North East Lincolnshire	Yorkshire and the Humber	Complete
Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy	DN34 5AH	North East Lincolnshire	Yorkshire and the Humber
Ormiston Maritime Academy	DN34 5AH	North East Lincolnshire	Yorkshire and the Humber
The Vale Academy	DN20 8AR	North Lincolnshire	Yorkshire and the Humber
South Ferriby Primary	DN18 6HU	North Lincolnshire	Yorkshire and the Humber
Graham School	YO12 6QW	North Yorkshire	Yorkshire and the Humber
Redscope Primary School	S61 2PL	Rotherham	Yorkshire and the Humber
Thorpe Hesley Primary School	S61 2PL	Rotherham	Yorkshire and the Humber
Arbourthorne Community Primary School	S2 2GQ	Sheffield	Yorkshire and the Humber
Oasis Academy Don Valley	S9 3TY	Sheffield	Yorkshire and the Humber
Oasis Academy Fir Vale	S4 8GA	Sheffield	Yorkshire and the Humber
Oasis Academy Watermead	S5 8RJ	Sheffield	Yorkshire and the Humber
West End Academy	WF 94QJ	Wakefield	Yorkshire and the Humber	Complete
Burton Green Primary School	YO30 6JE	York	Yorkshire and the Humber
Carr Infants School	YO26 5QA	York