Key Points
- Barking and Dagenham is among 16 London boroughs set to benefit from the Mayor’s £2.9 million Greener Schools programme, which will see solar panels and other green technologies installed in 38 schools.
- Local councils, including Barking and Dagenham Council, are contributing an additional £9.6 million to expand the reach of the scheme.
- City Hall estimates that each participating school could save almost £15,000 annually on energy bills through these upgrades.
- The government’s national Great British Energy initiative, with £180 million in funding, is also rolling out solar panels to schools and hospitals, with the first 11 schools already saving a combined £175,000 per year.
- Barking and Dagenham College will open a new green construction training centre, funded as part of a £6.5 million boost for green and digital skills, offering hands-on training in solar panel and heat pump installation.
- The initiatives aim to reduce carbon emissions, support the UK’s net zero targets, and reinvest savings into educational resources and staffing.
- Key figures including Mayor Sadiq Khan, Energy Minister Michael Shanks, and local education leaders have welcomed the projects, highlighting both environmental and educational benefits.
- The schemes are expected to support job creation and skills development in the green economy, particularly in deprived areas.
In a significant move towards sustainability and energy efficiency, Barking and Dagenham is set to benefit from a series of ambitious green initiatives, including the installation of solar panels at local schools and the launch of a new green construction training centre at Barking and Dagenham College. These projects form part of broader city-wide and national efforts to cut energy costs, reduce carbon emissions, and prepare the next generation for a greener economy.
What Is the Greener Schools Programme and How Will Barking and Dagenham Benefit?
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced that Barking and Dagenham is among 16 boroughs selected for the Greener Schools programme—a £2.9 million pilot scheme designed to make schools more energy efficient by installing solar panels, heat pumps, and other green technologies. According to reporting by the BBC and the Evening Standard, the programme will support 38 schools across the capital, with local councils, including Barking and Dagenham, investing an additional £9.6 million to extend the initiative’s reach.
City Hall projects that the scheme could save each participating school nearly £15,000 per year on energy bills, thanks to a combination of solar panels, improved insulation, LED lighting, and water conservation measures. The savings are intended to be reinvested into educational resources such as books, technology, and staffing, thereby directly benefiting students and teachers.
Mayor Sadiq Khan, speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service and quoted by the BBC, emphasised the dual impact of the project:
“This investment will assist schools in lowering their energy costs, allowing them to allocate more resources toward essential items like books, technology, and staffing, while also reducing carbon emissions to combat air pollution in the city.”
He further stated, as reported by the Evening Standard:
“By collaborating with the boroughs, we have been able to secure an additional £9.6 million to support more crucial projects in more schools, helping us reach our goal of achieving net zero by 2030 as we strive to create a greener and fairer London for all.”
Which Schools Are Involved and What Technologies Will Be Installed?
The 38 selected schools, including several in Barking and Dagenham, will receive a range of upgrades tailored to their specific needs. According to City Hall and the London.gov.uk press release, the funding will be used for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, renewable heating systems, and low-energy lighting solutions. The schools were chosen based on feasibility studies and quality assurance reviews by technical advisors, with each borough proposing innovative co-funding approaches.
Helen Bruckdorfer, executive headteacher of the Brecknock and Torriano Federation, one of the participating schools, told the Evening Standard:
“This funding will enable us to improve energy efficiency and adopt solutions such as solar and LED. Tackling climate change and fostering sustainability are essential to the collaboration between Camden Council and its schools, and this marks a significant move towards a greener, more sustainable future for our community.”
Rachel Carli, headteacher at Durants School in Enfield, echoed this sentiment, stating:
“The funding will be crucial in advancing the objectives outlined in the Enfield Schools Climate Action Plan.”
How Does the National Great British Energy Scheme Complement Local Efforts?
Parallel to the Mayor’s initiative, the UK Government has launched the Great British Energy scheme, a £180 million programme to install rooftop solar panels at schools and hospitals across England. According to a government press release, the first 11 schools to benefit from the scheme have already installed solar panels, resulting in annual savings of £175,000.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks, quoted in the government’s official announcement, said:
“Solar panels on school rooftops mean energy bills are cut and money can be invested directly into improving young people’s education while helping to tackle climate change for the next generation.”
Education Minister Stephen Morgan added:
“Through our Plan for Change, this government is supporting schools to save thousands on their bills so they can reinvest money saved into ensuring every child gets the best start in life.”
The scheme is expected to expand to 200 schools and nearly 200 NHS sites by the end of the year, with a focus on areas of greatest need, including deprived regions in the North East, West Midlands, and North West. Estimates suggest that a typical school could save up to £25,000 per year with solar panels and complementary technologies such as batteries.
What Is the Role of Barking and Dagenham College’s New Green Construction Training Centre?
In addition to the school-based initiatives, Barking and Dagenham College is set to launch a new green construction training centre, thanks to a share of £6.5 million in government funding for green and digital skills training. As reported by Barking & Dagenham College’s news team, the centre will feature “house in a box” facilities equipped with technologies found in energy-efficient homes, including solar panels and heat pumps.
Natalie Davison, Principal and CEO of Barking & Dagenham College, stated:
“Green construction is a massive growth area for our borough, and we are delighted to be receiving this funding to launch our new green construction training centre at Barking & Dagenham College. This investment will be invaluable in helping local people to train and retrain in this developing industry and will support local businesses to develop the skilled workforce they need.”
The college is part of a consortium of 23 further education providers in east London benefitting from the investment, with £3.6 million dedicated to green skills training facilities and £1.5 million allocated for a new digital network connecting 30 training sites across the boroughs. The digital infrastructure, operational by September 2024, will enable specialist teaching to be broadcast across the network, broadening access to green skills training.
How Will These Initiatives Impact the Local Community and the Wider UK?
The combined effect of the Greener Schools and Great British Energy programmes, alongside the new training centre, is expected to deliver substantial benefits:
- Financial Savings: Schools will save significant sums on energy bills, freeing up resources for educational improvements.
- Environmental Impact: The initiatives will reduce carbon emissions, support the UK’s net zero ambitions, and contribute to improved air quality.
- Skills and Employment: The green construction training centre will help create a pipeline of skilled workers for the rapidly growing green economy, which already represents 5% of London’s workforce.
- Community Resilience: By targeting deprived areas and investing in local infrastructure, the schemes aim to address inequality and promote sustainable growth.
What Are the Next Steps and Broader Implications?
Both local and national leaders have called for these pilot projects to be scaled up. Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged the government to adopt the Greener Schools programme as a national initiative, arguing that if all London schools implemented similar energy-saving measures, the education budget could save over £50 million annually. The government’s Great British Energy scheme, meanwhile, is set to continue its rollout, with all participating schools expected to have solar panels installed by the end of the year.
Juergen Maier, Chair of Great British Energy, highlighted the rapid progress, stating:
“Within two months we are seeing schools supported by our scheme having solar panels installed so they can start reaping the rewards of clean energy—opening up the opportunity for more money to be spent on our children rather than energy bills.”
As the UK faces ongoing challenges from rising energy costs and the need to decarbonise, Barking and Dagenham’s involvement in these pioneering schemes positions it at the forefront of the green transition, offering a model for other communities nationwide.
