OVERVIEW
Chester Diocesan Academies Trust (CDAT) is a diverse Multi-Academy Trust comprising both rural and urban schools, some with ageing infrastructure and limited access to gas supplies.
In January 2025, through West Mercia Energy’s (WME) Decarbonisation Framework, Barker was commissioned to deliver a Climate Action Plan that would set CDAT on the path to net zero carbon by 2030, aligned with Department for Education (DfE) guidance.
THE BRIEF
The objective was to provide a clear, actionable strategy that not only reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions but also addressed Scope 3 activities and engaged stakeholders across the Trust. Barker’s Climate Action Plan was structured around the DfE’s four sustainability pillars: decarbonisation, adaptation and resilience, biodiversity, and climate education and jobs.
THE CHALLENGES
The project involved several complexities. Initial underreporting of energy consumption meant deeper analysis was needed to establish an accurate baseline. The diversity of the estate added further challenges, with some schools reliant on oil and others operating from newer or more efficient facilities, making standardisation difficult. At the same time, funding constraints limited capital investment opportunities due to competing estate priorities, requiring creative, low-cost interventions to deliver meaningful impact.
THE OUTCOME
Barker carried out detailed energy profiling, assessing usage per school, per square metre, and per pupil to enable fair benchmarking and strategic planning. In partnership with WME, CDAT committed to transitioning from brown to green tariffs as contracts expired, with minimal financial impact on the Trust. Seven “pathfinder” schools were selected to pilot sustainability initiatives, while simple behavioural campaigns such as “Switch Off/Turn Down” demonstrated potential annual savings of £18,000 and 12 tonnes of CO₂.
Alongside Let’s Go Zero, CDAT schools also began to address wider Scope 3 and biodiversity goals, with new initiatives covering food, transport, and green space enhancement. To support long-term progress, dashboards and KPIs were introduced to monitor performance and inform future decision-making. The Climate Action Plan has now been formally adopted by the Trust Board and is being rolled out across all schools, marking a significant step forward in CDAT’s sustainability journey.
“We’ve found Barker to be knowledgeable, easy to work with and highly effective in getting our climate action work up and running – we’d happily recommend them to anyone”
Neil Dixon, CEOOur experience and vision have shaped over 300 projects across sectors, from energy and funding to architecture and design, helping bring ideas to life.
