Created: 13th August, 2025
Robert joined Barker in 2002 and is a Partner based in our Braintree office. A Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, he has over 20 years’ experience of all core building surveying services and provides strategic estates advice to key accounts in the education, commercial, ecclesiastical and public sectors.
An education specialist, he provides the following services: estates and energy strategy, asset management planning, project management and capital funding applications.
Robert works closely with clients to plan and implement energy efficiency and sustainability strategies to save money, reduce carbon emissions and meet ESG objectives.
As a RICS Certified Historic Buildings Professional he provides conservation consultancy for clients with listed and historic buildings.
Robert is an experienced APC Assessor and Chairman and is also an external examiner for Anglia Ruskin University
As a Partner Robert leads the Business Development and Marketing function at Barker, builds relationships with key sector bodies and helps steer the strategic growth of the company.
Email: rgould@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 01279 648057
Updated for the latest Department for Education guidance and SECR reporting requirements.
In 2020, the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) confirmed in its guidance note that academy trusts fall within the scope of the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) requirements set out in the Companies (Directors’ Report) and Limited Liability Partnerships (Energy and Carbon Report) Regulations 2018.
Following the closure of the ESFA in March 2025, responsibility transferred to the Department for Education (DfE), which issued updated Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting guidance in July 2025, including revised greenhouse gas conversion factors.
This guide explains what SECR is, whether it applies to your organisation, the key SECR reporting requirements, and how academy trusts can simplify compliance while supporting broader sustainability objectives.
Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) is a UK government framework that requires qualifying organisations to report their energy consumption, carbon emissions, and energy efficiency measures within their annual reports and accounts.
The purpose of SECR carbon reporting goes beyond regulatory compliance; it is designed to encourage organisations to understand their environmental impact and improve energy efficiency and contribute towards the UK’s Net Zero target by 2050.
While academy trusts are a key focus of this guidance, SECR reporting applies across both public and private sector organisations that meet qualifying thresholds.
The UK’s carbon reporting requirements aim to increase transparency and accountability around energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
By embedding carbon reporting within annual financial reporting, organisations are encouraged to:
SECR provides governing boards and leadership teams with the information needed to make informed decisions about energy management and investment.
Whether an organisation falls within the SECR reporting requirements depends on its size and circumstances. As a general rule of thumb, school trusts with more than two secondary academies or more than five primary academies are likely to fall within scope as they typically exceed the thresholds of more than 250 employees and assets above £18 million. Each trust must confirm its own eligibility based on its specific financial and operational position.
Jonathan Coyles, Partner at Barker Associates, explains what these new requirements mean for academy trusts in our SECR Webinar.
One of the most asked questions is whether a separate submission is required, the answer is no.
SECR reporting forms part of your audited annual accounts and must be completed in line with the reporting timetable set out within the current Academies Accounts Direction issued by the DfE.
Organisations should ensure all required data is collected and verified in sufficient time to support year-end reporting and audit processes.
For most trusts, energy data collection begins with gas and electricity consumption.
A straightforward approach is to:
While this sounds simple, larger trusts often manage more than 150 individual energy meters across multiple sites; as a result, gathering accurate information can become resource intensive.
Smart metering solutions can significantly improve efficiency, particularly where utilities are managed through a single supplier. Dedicated energy management platforms, such as our EO Portal, can also automate the collection, analysis, and reporting of consumption data, reducing administrative burden and improving accuracy.
Business travel can be one of the more challenging aspects of SECR carbon reporting. Trusts that have already been reporting under SECR may have established processes in place. Where systems are still developing, travel data can often be gathered from mileage claims and expense records.
To simplify future reporting, organisations may wish to introduce dedicated mileage codes within their chart of accounts, such as:
This approach enables annual mileage to be estimated using expenditure and reimbursement rates. For example, if mileage claims total £4,500 at a reimbursement rate of £0.45 per mile, the resulting mileage can be calculated as 10,000 miles.
For Trusts with significant travel activity, mileage tracking tools can provide more accurate and efficient data collection.
Many academy trusts operate minibuses or other fleet vehicles.
Where fuel cards are used, consumption data is typically available through fuel card reporting systems. Trusts that maintain vehicle mileage logs may also be able to use these records for reporting purposes.
For organisations seeking a more automated approach, vehicle tracking systems can provide accurate mileage information while reducing manual administration.
The treatment of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) arrangements depends on how utility costs are managed.
Where utilities are included within PFI payments, it is generally understood that responsibility for reporting sits with the PFI contractor. Where utility costs are paid separately by the responsible body, responsibility for SECR reporting may remain with the organisation making those payments.
Each arrangement should be reviewed individually to confirm reporting responsibilities.
Although compliance is important, the primary objective of Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting is to encourage meaningful reductions in energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Organisations that take a proactive approach often achieve benefits beyond compliance, including lower energy costs, improved estate performance and stronger sustainability outcomes.
A clear energy strategy provides direction for future investment and helps organisations prioritise opportunities that deliver both carbon and financial savings.
Projects such as:
Can reduce energy consumption while supporting long-term sustainability goals.
Behavioural change remains one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce emissions. Successful organisations combine technical improvements with engagement initiatives, such as Less CO2, that encourage sustainable behaviours.
Digital collaboration platforms can reduce unnecessary travel while maintaining effective communication across sites and teams.
Effective SECR reporting guidance should focus on three core principles:
Understanding what SECR is, managing compliance and collecting the required data can be challenging, particularly for larger Academy Trusts with complex estates.
Barker Associates supports organisations with energy strategy development, carbon reduction planning, energy management, and SECR compliance to help organisations meet their SECR reporting requirements while identifying opportunities to reduce costs and emissions.
