Sustainable Schools Challenge: Critical Friend and Sustainability Advisor - C194/2024/2025

The Sustainable Communities for Learning (SCfL) Programme launched an innovative Sustainable Schools’ Challenge through the existing Programme and governance framework. Building on the Net Zero Carbon mandate across the Programme introduced in January 2022, the Welsh Government invited applications from local authorities that could demonstrate innovative and collaborative design, development, delivery, and management of initially two new schools that could make a positive contribution to the environment and surrounding landscape.

The collaboration expected from the Challenge included learners, staff, parents, community and supply chains through all stages of design, construction and operational life for a truly sustainable school. Aimed at primary schools an allocation of up to £15 million at 100% intervention was allocated per project.

Given the high calibre of entries funding was announced in March 2023 for three new sustainable schools. Where necessary the successful bidder will be expected to lead in elements of the workshops, facilitating research for their case studies and conduct mini workshops at local level with the participating projects to obtain sufficient knowledge of the innovation and collaboration being undertaken to inform advice and case studies.

Attendance in person will be necessary for most meetings which will take place across Wales. The bidders will need to familiarise themselves with progress of the designs and the work of the Critical Friend during phase1 of the design stage.