Posts by Natasha Hoare
Updates from our Annual Meeting
The Schools Energy Co-op held it’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 25th September 2025. An annual meeting is a requirement for every registered Co-operative Society, it gives our members a chance to have their say and vote on the running of the co-op. We held the meeting online over Zoom, and around 40 people attended…
Read MoreRecord high dividends paid to schools this year
The Schools’ Energy Co-op recently held it’s Annual General Meeting, where members voted to approve a dividend payment of £60,000 to our member schools. The dividend is allocated between schools broadly in proportion to how much the solar panels hosted on their site contribute to the co-op. We have 92 member schools, and a handful…
Read MoreSchools save close to £1 million on their energy bills thanks to community-owned solar
This post was originally published on the Energy4All website. Schools across the UK saved an estimated £928,000 last year on their energy bills, thanks to six co-ops in the Energy4All family: The Schools’ Energy Co-op, Wey Valley Solar Schools Co-op, North Lincolnshire Community Energy, Edinburgh Community Solar Co-op, Energise South and REPOWER Balcombe. At a…
Read MoreNorthamptonshire added to the map with installation on Ise Lodge Community Centre
The Schools’ Energy Co-operative have installed 48 solar panels on Ise Lodge Community Centre in Kettering. It is our first installation in Northamptonshire. The installation is expected to save the community centre £2000 in it’s first year. Members of the community gather to launch the new solar PV panels This project was initially the idea…
Read MoreCelebrating 10 years and 100 installations!
10 years ago last month, our first solar site Glenleigh Park Primary School started generating carbon-free solar electricity. Now, we have installed solar PV system on our 100th building: Bridport Leisure Centre. In 10 years, we have installed solar PV systems on more than 100 buildings, saving nearly 7,000 tones carbon dioxide (compared to generation…
Read MoreChair Mike Smyth Awarded MBE
Mike Smyth, chair of The Schools’ Energy Co-operative, has been awarded an MBE in King Charles III’s first New Year’s honours list for services to the environment. Mike has been recognised for his dedication and commitment in his roles in the energy and environmental sector, as chair of Schools’ Energy, Wey Valley Solar and Energy4All…
Read MoreHertfordshire – Ashlyn’s School
The main buildings at Ashlyns School are listed but the school is building a new sports hall which will also serve the wider community. The Co-operative has been working with the School and local community group Transition Town Berkhampsted to secure the maximum solar array the new building can accommodate to increase its environmental sustainability.…
Read MoreWest London – Perivale Primary School
In 2019 Schools’ Energy Co-operative celebrated their 50th installation at Perivale Primary School, in Ealing, West London. The Schools’ Energy Co-op were brought on-board thanks to local sustainability group, Ealing Transition, who take practical, local action on climate change, energy and food security. Audrey Daley, Headteacher at Perivale Primary School said: “When we were told about…
Read MoreEast Sussex – Glenleigh Park Primary Academy
Glenleigh Park Primary Academy is a primary school in Bexhill-on-Sea. Over the summer of 2014 SEC installed a 150kW of solar PV (spread out over 7 of their roofs). We think this still one of the largest community owned primary school installations in the UK. Glenleigh Park Primary Academy is one of the schools of…
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