THE new edition of the Academy Trust Handbook, which was published on September 1st, puts greater emphasis on environmental responsibility, now a statutory priority for trusts. Sustainability is no longer a ‘nice to have’, it is a core governance and compliance issue, standing shoulder to shoulder with finance, safeguarding and educational standards. Academy’s that don’t make the grade risk reputational and financial implications.

 Going forward, trusts must work towards the following aims:

• Measure and report on energy consumption, emissions, and environmental impact, in line with the DfE’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, which states that all schools have a sustainability lead by 2025 and meet net zero by 2050. Develop and maintain an estates strategy that incorporates carbon reduction and sustainable asset management.
• Embed sustainability at board level, ensuring that trustees and accounting officers understand their role in steering the trust toward net zero commitments. · Large Multi Academy Trusts (MATs) must comply with Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) requirements, ensuring annual disclosures are accurate, auditable, and transparent. Estimates suggest that over 520 MATs, covering more than 4,200 academy schools fit these criteria. Smaller academies are also expected to adopt best practice.

Where to begin? A sustainability strategy is a marathon not a race, there are no corners to cut and in fact, if plans are executed in the right order, initial fuel bill savings can go towards funding more major works. The first step should always be to conduct and energy audit in order to assess energy wasters, some of which can be improved without substantial investment – upgrading to LED lights, for example - ‘quick wins’ that will immediately reduce energy consumption. The findings of this audit will also provide a benchmark for improvement, supporting SECR compliance.

One of the key areas we often see easily fixable issues is with Building Management Systems (BMS), which are often incorrectly set-up and underused. Common configuration problems include heating schedules not set for actual occupant usage, leading to empty rooms being heated/whole buildings kept warm when no one’s in them. Getting this one thing right across multiple sites can have a significant impact on fuel bill reduction.

Where BMS sensors are not properly maintained, crucial data fed back to the BMS is incorrect, preventing optimal performance. Good data is an essential part of tracking sustainability improvements and will also contribute to successful AI integration further down the line.

Sustainability across the board means more than just ensuring energy efficiency and moving away from fossil fuels: true sustainability includes improving efficiency overall – from working practices, to preventing unnecessary site visits. Overarching workflow management tools are key here, particularly for large MATs with multiple, varied sites. Right first time works, admin reduction and greater visibility can be achieved with the latest software, helping trusts stick to and further improve initial sustainability goals.

Well-planned and executed sustainability strategies are not just about compliance and carbon reduction, the actions taken will reduce overheads, create healthy and productive working environments and ensure estates are more resilient to climate-related risks.

What happens if you fail to comply?

 Failure to comply with SECR obligations carries serious legal, financial, and reputational consequences. Penalties include:

• Rejection of annual accounts by Companies House
• Late filing penalties ranging from £150 to £7,500
• Civil fines up to £50,000 from the Financial Reporting Council (FRC)
• Public censure, damaging trust reputation and stakeholder confidence
• Director accountability, including potential prosecution for persistent breaches.