Education Estates 2025 is the UK’s leading conference for school estates and sustainability. As the 2025 deadline for net zero and energy efficiency targets approaches, schools are under growing pressure to act. This event therefore offers practical guidance and expert insight that can help schools reduce energy use while strengthening compliance. For school leaders and estates managers, it is also an opportunity to connect with specialists and come away with clear ideas on how to put sustainability plans into practice.
Education Estates 2025 Overview
Education Estates 2025 will take place on 14–15 October 2025 at Manchester Central Convention Complex. Over two days, the CPD-accredited programme will bring together estates, facilities and sustainability professionals for a mix of exhibition stages and themed sessions. The agenda covers a wide range of topics, moving from sustainability and refurbishment to reuse, adaptation and the future of design and construction.
For school leaders, the highlights are especially relevant. Sessions such as Net Zero Carbon Operation in Schools will showcase Department for Education–backed projects, while panels on new legislation will explore how upcoming rules are set to shape school operations. Taken together, these sessions make the conference an important opportunity to understand both the challenges and solutions ahead, while also linking directly to the national requirements that will shape how schools manage their estates in the years to come.
What UK Schools Need to Know About Net Zero Rules
The UK Department for Education now expects every school to appoint a sustainability lead and create a climate action plan by the end of 2025, as confirmed in official government guidance. Together, these requirements form part of a wider national effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions in education and prepare school estates for a low-carbon future. To support this shift, the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard sets out the performance benchmarks schools should follow for operational energy use and embodied carbon, with CIBSE providing additional guidance to help schools understand and apply the framework.
In light of these developments, Education Estates 2025 offers a timely chance for school leaders to understand these rules in depth and connect with experts who can guide their next steps. To put these requirements into action, schools need tools to track and improve performance, and energy management systems are essential for this work.
How Energy Management Systems Can Transform School Sustainability
An Energy Management System (EMS) is a digital platform that gives schools real-time visibility over their energy use. By monitoring electricity, gas and water consumption, it provides the insight needed to understand carbon footprints and make informed choices. With this knowledge, and the support of experienced consultants, schools can turn data into practical action. This might involve spotting inefficiencies, planning upgrades that move estates closer to net zero targets or making changes to everyday operations in line with new expectations.
An EMS also opens the door to financial and environmental gains. Schools can cut costs, show measurable progress toward sustainability goals and strengthen long-term plans with greater confidence. ClearVUE.Zero, which will feature at Education Estates 2025, is already helping schools across the UK achieve this. Its minute-level data, automated alerts and tailored guidance give sustainability leads the tools they need to stay compliant while building resilient energy strategies for the future.
Case Study: How UK Schools Are Cutting Carbon and Costs
One clear example of these benefits in practice comes from Tor Bridge School in Plymouth. After adopting ClearVUE.Zero’s energy and carbon management system, the school gained the visibility it needed to understand and control its energy use. As a result, it reduced consumption by 37%, cutting 131,119 kWh and avoiding 30,736 kg of CO₂ emissions. These improvements are expected to save around £19,563 each year. Tor Bridge’s experience shows how real-time monitoring and targeted action can turn sustainability goals into measurable results, giving other schools a practical model for reaching both net zero targets and budget savings.
Why Education Estates 2025 Matters and How Schools Can Take Action
Success stories like this highlight why Education Estates 2025 is such a valuable event for schools to turn sustainability goals into action. Alongside product showcases, it offers workshops and panels where school leaders can learn from experts and exchange ideas with peers. The exhibition also features solutions such as energy monitoring platforms and consulting services to support progress toward net zero. By appointing a sustainability lead, starting a climate action plan and exploring tools like ClearVUE.Zero, schools can prepare now to meet 2025 targets with confidence and a clear strategy for the future.
