Author: Oliver Wakefield-Smith, Founder Digital Signet. Reviewed against DfE Sustainability Strategy (Mar 2025) and Education Estates Strategy (Feb 2026). Verified 22 June 2026.
Net Zero Wales binds the Welsh public sector to net zero by 2030. Schools are inside the scope. The Welsh Government's Decarbonisation Strategic Plan for the public sector sets the framework.
Net Zero Wales binds the Welsh public sector to net zero by 2030. Schools are inside the scope. The Welsh Government's Decarbonisation Strategic Plan for the public sector sets the framework.
Sustainable Communities for Learning (formerly 21st Century Schools) is the principal Welsh capital programme; net zero criteria are now embedded in the funding rules. Welsh Government separately administers a 100 per cent interest-free Salix-equivalent for the public sector.
All new and refurbished Welsh school capital must meet net zero in operation criteria. This commonly drives Passivhaus or near-Passivhaus specifications on new builds.
Per-school envelopes scale with the band and the project type; published Welsh Government guidance per cycle is the authoritative reference.