A school in Stotfold is set for a £2.9 million refurbishment as part of Government plans to help lower carbon emissions.

St Mary's Church of England Academy is one of seven schools across the UK to receive funding from the Department for Education's £18.6 million Decarbonisation Pilot scheme.

The pilot will see schools benefit from new low carbon heating solutions, as well as improvements to the buildings fabric to make the school more thermal efficient, all through Fusion21 frameworks.

Energy bills and carbon emissions in the public and higher education sectors shows that schools and universities represent 36 per cent of total UK public sector building emissions, with hopes the scheme will make these schools more efficient.

Where necessary, the schools’ building fabric will be improved with upgrades ranging from new electrics, roofs and ceilings to new doors and windows amid a government drive to make educational buildings greener.

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"It is fantastic to have been involved in such an important Department for Education project and to support the schools who used our framework to appoint the contractors for these transformational, multi-million pound improvement works which will vastly improve the buildings, bring huge energy savings and carbon emission reductions and ensure pupils, teachers and parents are playing an important role in decarbonisation and Net Zero ambitions," said  Oliver Mooney, head of category at Fusion21.

Research found that in 2019 schools were spending around £630m per year on energy – with today’s figure expected to be much higher.

The following schools will be refurbished as part of the Decarbonisation Pilot:

  • West End Academy - Wakefield
  • Richmond Hill Primary Academy - Doncaster
  • Acton Church of England Primary Academy - Nantwich
  • Calveley Primary Academy - Tarporley
  • Roydon Primary Academy - Essex
  • Peasedown St John Primary School - Bath
  • St Mary’s Academy - Stotfold