Government deadline looms for school climate plans

As the new academic year begins, schools in England face mounting pressure to accelerate climate action. The Department for Education (DfE) has set a firm expectation: by the end of 2025, every school, college, and nursery must have a practical climate action plan in place.

The requirement covers adaptation, resilience, biodiversity, climate education, and decarbonisation. These plans are intended not only to reduce emissions but also to lower energy costs and ensure schools are prepared for the impacts of climate change.

To help schools meet the deadline, Let’s Go Zero, the national campaign uniting more than 7,000 education settings, is offering free support through its network of Climate Action Advisors.

“This back-to-school season is the moment for every headteacher and sustainability lead to get serious about climate action. The government has set the expectation – every school should have a plan in place by the end of 2025. But no school has to do this alone,” says Alex Green, Head of Let’s Go Zero.

Schools already making progress

The campaign, coordinated by the climate solutions charity Ashden, reports that over 1,200 schools have already created a Climate Action Plan with its guidance. More than 5,500 schools have received direct support from Climate Action Advisors, leading to measurable results:

• 6,164 tonnes of CO2e already saved.
• A further 45,990 tonnes expected to be avoided through planned actions.
• £1.6 million in funding unlocked to support energy-saving and sustainability measures.

These achievements underscore how structured support can help schools translate policy into practical outcomes, ranging from building efficiency upgrades to biodiversity projects.

Climate risks already hitting classrooms

The urgency of the initiative is clear. Rising temperatures, flooding, and extreme weather are no longer abstract threats but day-to-day challenges for schools. Energy and food costs are also escalating due to climate-linked pressures, hitting already tight budgets.

Central Park School in Newham, East London, illustrates the stakes. During a summer visit, its playground tarmac was recorded at over 40°C on a 27-degree day. Without shade, children struggled to learn. With guidance from Climate Action Advisor Holly Campbell, the school planted nine trees that now cool the playground and enrich the learning environment.

Shannon Griffin, Year 5 teacher and sustainability lead, explains: “Doing an audit and writing it down made a huge difference. Holly brought it all together – giving us ideas, helping with funding, and offering real guidance. Without that, it would’ve been so much harder.”

Embedding sustainability into long-term planning

In Leicestershire, Stathern School has gone further, integrating sustainability into its three-year development plan after working with a Climate Action Advisor. Headteacher Karen Lambert says: “We made progress quite quickly over a few months. Our Climate Action Advisor Jelly Moring went through our carbon footprint with us – things like how draughts from our windows and doors were leading to higher energy usage. This led me to write sustainability into our three-year development plan. It felt timely and good.”

For multi-academy trusts, the benefits scale across entire networks. The Finham Park Multi-Academy Trust in Coventry and Warwickshire achieved a 14% reduction in energy use and a 25% cut in emissions at one secondary school within a single term. The trust is now replicating the model across its other schools.

A sector-wide transformation

The DfE’s framework rests on four pillars: adaptation and resilience, biodiversity, climate education, and decarbonisation. Schools are being encouraged to integrate these principles into both operations and curriculum, fostering a generation of climate-aware citizens.

Let’s Go Zero’s advisors translate this framework into practical steps such as energy audits, biodiversity projects, and staff travel initiatives. For many schools, the structured process of creating a climate action plan provides the clarity and momentum needed to act.

The campaign has also become a powerful signal of collective ambition. With more than 7,190 schools signed up, it demonstrates to young people that their communities can lead by example in responding to the climate crisis.

As Alex Green notes, “Our Climate Action Advisors are already helping thousands of schools turn ambition into action, and we’re ready to help thousands more.”

Wider industry context

The education sector’s climate obligations align with the UK’s broader net zero targets. Schools are among the largest public-sector estates, with significant potential to reduce emissions through energy efficiency, renewable generation, and low-carbon transport.

Industry observers point out that the DfE’s framework could establish schools as a model for other public-sector organisations navigating decarbonisation challenges. The emphasis on biodiversity and green careers also reflects wider efforts to prepare young people for a workforce shaped by the low-carbon transition.

Looking ahead

With less than two years until the deadline, the challenge for schools is balancing limited resources with the scale of the task. Yet the experience of schools already supported by Let’s Go Zero shows that progress is achievable. Practical measures, expert guidance, and access to funding can help schools meet government expectations while improving the wellbeing of students and staff.

The coming academic years will determine whether schools across England can collectively deliver on the 2025 target. For many, the work already underway offers a blueprint for how education settings can lead on climate action while reaping the benefits of resilience, lower costs, and engaged learners.