Supporting Bradford schools on their journey to net zero

I recently had the privilege of joining over 50 schools from across the Bradford district at a powerful Climate Action Event hosted by Bradford Council.

The day was all about helping schools turn climate ambition into concrete, practical action — something we’re incredibly passionate about at Solar for Schools, so it was great to be so involved in the day.

With the Department for Education’s requirement for all schools to have a Climate Action Plan in place by the end of 2025, the event couldn’t have come at a better time. The event brought together teachers, school leaders, sustainability specialists and DfE-supported programmes to offer clear guidance and hands-on support for every stage of the journey.

Bringing along the whole school

What stood out to me was how holistic the conversations were. Schools explored how climate action can flow through every part of school life—from governance and financial planning to curriculum development, estates improvements, into the community and beyond,

Workshops and talks covered key themes including: decarbonising school estates, climate adaptation and resilience, biodiversity and nature recovery, environmental education and student leadership.

We see this in all the schools we work with but it was brought into focus at the event: real change happens when climate action becomes part of a school’s culture, not an add-on.

Collaboration is key

As well as Solar for Schools, DfE-commissioned organisations such as the National Education Nature Park, Let’s Go Zero and the Climate Ambassador Scheme were there. Together, we offered tailored guidance to help schools move forward—whether they’re just beginning to explore sustainability or already implementing ambitious projects.

I spoke about how rooftop solar on schools can reduce carbon, cut energy bills and create hands-on learning opportunities for pupils. Many attendees were surprised by how accessible solar is, particularly through funded models that remove upfront cost barriers.

Bradford Council confirmed that their support won’t stop at this event. Schools will continue to receive advice and guidance to ensure their Climate Action Plans are practical, achievable, and long-lasting.

Big shout out to Kath Clark, Sustainability Project Officer at Bradford Council who ran the event, and brought all the key people together for a productive and insightful day.

Celebrating our work with BDAT

One of the Trusts we've worked closely with BDAT, the Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust. It was great to take a moment to celebrate all that has been acehieved across the Trust and use their impact as a beacon of example for others thinking about making the journey towards solar. I highlighted some of the amazing impact figures from our work with BDAT:

- 16 schools in total with solar

- 2.2mw worth of power generated with solar across those schools

- £57,000 savings made across those schools in the first year

- 514 tonnes of CO₂ saved so far

We're looking forward to working with many more schools in the area. If you were at the event, know a school within Bradford District that is keen to go solar, please get in touch!