Is your school estate meeting DfE’s net-zero requirements?

Sustainability is no longer an option, but a day-to-day reality for schools.

Rising energy costs, stricter regulations, and growing expectations around environmental responsibility are creating pressure, but they also offer a real opportunity: to build learning environments that are efficient, resilient, and ready for the future.

The Department for Education now expects all education settings, including academies, to appoint a sustainability lead and maintain a Climate Action Plan (CAP). Covering decarbonisation, adaptation, biodiversity, and climate education, the CAP ensures schools play their part in national net-zero ambitions.

At Norse Group, we know the challenges trusts face, from operational and financial pressures to regulatory demands. With decades of experience supporting public-sector organisations, we help turn these challenges into practical, data-driven opportunities, enabling trusts to meet obligations, cut energy use, and plan with confidence for a low-carbon future.

Streamlined SECR reporting
For academy trusts, Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) can be complex, especially across multiple sites. Trusts meeting at least two of the following criteria must report energy and carbon in their trustees’ report:

• · Turnover (or gross income) of £36 million or more
  · Balance sheet assets of £18 million or more
  · 250 employees or more

Norse Group’s SECR service removes the burden from your team. We provide comprehensive data collection and validation, compliant reporting aligned with SECR requirements, and identification of energy reduction opportunities. All outputs are clear, ready for Board reporting and public disclosure, helping trusts stay compliant while uncovering insights that support long-term energy and cost savings.

Decarbonisation planning built around your estate
Achieving net zero requires a strategic, phased approach. Norse Group works with trusts to create estate-wide decarbonisation plans that balance ambition with affordability. This can include:

• · Carbon baselining and emissions modelling
  · Heat decarbonisation pathways
  · Technology options appraisal, from solar PV and heat pumps to LED lighting and insulation
  · Funding-ready business cases and investment plans

Whether preparing for funding or building a long-term roadmap, we provide the evidence and expertise trusts need to act with confidence.

Insights that drive real change
Our energy audits go beyond compliance to deliver actionable insights. We assess building fabric, mechanical and electrical systems, operational behaviours, and controls, producing detailed recommendations with costed interventions. Prioritised action plans support budgeting and funding bids, translating technical findings into clear, practical steps that leadership teams can implement immediately.

Many trusts have condition surveys, but few layer in energy intelligence. Norse Group can integrate energy and decarbonisation insights onto existing or newly commissioned reports, giving trusts a holistic view of both asset condition and energy performance. This enables prioritised investment planning based on carbon, cost, and lifecycle impact, while providing a single dataset to support strategic decision-making and readiness for capital funding applications.

Making every decision count
With the right insight, planning, and support from partners like Norse Group, trusts can turn complex sustainability requirements into clear, practical action, creating schools that are efficient, resilient, and future-ready. Leadership teams can make confident, long-term decisions that reduce carbon, lower costs, and enhance learning environments. Whether for a single academy or a multi-academy trust, a collaborative, strategic approach ensures sustainability commitments become real, measurable impact, leaving a legacy that lasts.

If you have a project in mind or an opportunity identified through our energy audits or condition reports, our multi-disciplinary design and project delivery teams can help bring your ambitions to life.