School teachers and EV drivers can charge their electric cars more easily with 1,407 sockets now placed outside schools and colleges in the UK.
Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood has confirmed the chargers have been fitted at UK schools since March last year, through £3m from the Government’s Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS).
The new chargepoints at schools follow more than 59,000 workplace charging sockets that the scheme has funded since 2016.
In addition to schools, the WCS supported a further 6,500 sockets in workplace car parks in 2024.
Schools can also open the chargepoints to local residents and visitors, helping to fit charging around people’s daily lives and providing an additional revenue stream to schools.
The Workplace Charging Scheme, alongside the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant, has also been extended for another year, the Government has also confirmed.
The funding is part of more than £2.3bn to help industry and consumers make a supported switch to EVs.
Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood said:
“Schools are the beating heart of our towns and communities, and rolling out chargers here shows we are building a practical and reliable charging network designed around people’s daily lives.
“Reaching 1,000 sockets at schools is a particularly significant milestone and builds on a record January for electric car sales, as consumer confidence in the electric transition grows every day. This is helping support jobs, make the UK a clean energy superpower and deliver our Plan for Change.”
Chris Norwood, Headteacher of the Northfleet School for Girls, said:
“Developing an environmentally friendly site is an important part of our school vision and practice. We have been able to play our part in reducing emissions, whilst working with students to educate in creating a more sustainable future. Through installing solar panels, LED lighting and car chargers we have been able to save over £500,000 in energy costs (since 2017), funds which are directed back into ensuring the best possible education for our students.
“The car chargers have created over £2000 in additional school funding which has helped to create an additional farm classroom for all students to utilise. We expect that by modelling the best environmental practice possible we are supporting our students to be proactive in this area in their adult lives.”
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