EV Charger Grants for Schools 2026 | How to Claim 75% Funding | LAMPS
Last updated: 28 April 2026
Looking into EV charger grants for schools in 2026? State-funded schools and other state-funded education institutions across the UK can still claim 75% towards the cost of buying and installing EV chargepoints through the Workplace Charging Scheme for state-funded education institutions. The scheme remains open, but from 1 April 2026 the maximum grant rate is now £2,000 per socket, not £2,500 as it was previously.
For schools, colleges and academy trusts planning staff, visitor or fleet charging, this can still make a major difference to project costs. It is also a practical way to prepare your site for rising EV use without funding the full installation from your own budget.
LAMPS can help you source suitable commercial EV chargers, installation materials and supporting products, as well as guide you through the practical steps before you apply. If you need help comparing charger types or pulling together an itemised quote, our team can help you get the process moving.
What Is the EV Charger Grant for Schools?
The current grant is the Workplace Charging Scheme for state-funded education institutions. It is run by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and is designed to help state-funded schools and other eligible education institutions install EV chargepoints at their sites.
As of April 2026, the grant covers:
- 75% of the cost to buy and install eligible EV chargepoints
- Up to £2,000 per socket
- Up to 40 sockets across all sites, including any previous applications made through the Workplace Charging Scheme
The scheme is available in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. If your institution is in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, it is not eligible.
Academy trusts have an important extra point to note: they can apply for up to 40 sockets for each institution within the trust, rather than just 40 across the entire trust.
Who Can Apply?
This scheme is for state-funded schools and other state-funded education institutions. To apply, the organisation must have:
- an existing or future need for EV charging
- designated off-street parking clearly associated with the premises
- authority to apply on behalf of the organisation
If you are an independent school, this is the one part that often causes confusion. Independent schools are not eligible for this education-specific grant. Instead, they should look at the standard Workplace Charging Scheme, which from 1 April 2026 offers up to £500 per socket for eligible workplaces, up to 40 sockets across sites.
What the Grant Covers in 2026
The grant is there to support the purchase and installation of EV chargepoints. In practical terms, that means it can help reduce the upfront cost of creating a charging setup for staff vehicles, pool cars, fleet vehicles, visitors or future use on site.
It is worth stressing two things.
First, the 75% support is still generous, but the cap is now lower than it was before April 2026. Schools using older guidance may still be expecting £2,500 per socket. That figure now only applies to vouchers awarded before 1 April 2026.
Second, schools must use an authorised installer and the installer must fit eligible commercial chargepoints. Chargepoint eligibility is not something to assume from a brand name alone. OZEV keeps an official eligible model list, and that list changes over time.
Why Schools May Want to Act Before March 2027
There is a practical reason not to leave this until the last minute. The education grant has been extended for a final year until 31 March 2027. For many schools and trusts, that creates a clear planning window.
If your site is already considering EV charging for staff parking, visitors, caretaking vehicles or future fleet needs, applying within this funding period can make the project much easier to justify internally. It can also help you avoid having to revisit the same site survey, budgeting and procurement work later without grant support.
Schools may also want to think beyond the initial install. A well-planned charger layout can make it easier to expand later, control user access and support different use cases across the site.
How LAMPS Can Help
LAMPS can support schools and trusts at the point where the project moves from idea to specification. That usually means helping you answer practical questions such as:
- What type of charger is likely to suit a school or college site?
- How many sockets make sense for current demand?
- What supporting products are likely to be needed around the installation?
- How should you approach the quote so the project is easier to review internally?
We supply a wide range of commercial EV chargers, plus the wider installation products that often sit around a school charging project, including EV cabling, EV circuit protection, charger posts and pedestals and EV ancillaries.
We can also help you structure an itemised quote and talk through the charging setup before you submit the application. Where installation support is needed, the job itself must still be completed by an authorised installer.
How to Claim the Grant: Step by Step
The application process is fairly straightforward, but it is easier if you gather the right information before you start.
- Confirm that your institution is eligible.
Your organisation must be a state-funded school or other state-funded education institution with off-street parking and a current or future EV charging need. - Speak to an authorised installer first.
Before applying, the government recommends getting an authorised installer to carry out a site survey to check that the electrical capacity of the site can support the number of sockets you want to install. - Decide what you want to install.
Work out how many sockets you want, whether the chargers will be for staff only or wider use, and whether you plan to open them to the public later. - Gather the details needed for the form.
You will need information such as:- staff and pupil numbers
- your institution or SEED reference number
- the number of chargepoints and sites involved
- the name and OZEV number of your installer
- contact details for two people
- Apply through the government form.
Once submitted, successful applicants are sent a voucher code. Until that voucher is issued, there is no guarantee of funding. - Complete the installation within the voucher window.
The voucher is valid for 180 days, and the installation must be completed within that period. - Your installer claims the grant.
The installer claims the grant on your behalf and deducts the value from your invoice.
What Schools Often Get Wrong
The most common issue is relying on outdated information. A lot of articles and suppliers still refer to the old £2,500 per socket figure, but that is no longer the standard cap for new education applications after 1 April 2026.
The second issue is assuming any workplace charger will automatically qualify. It must be an eligible commercial chargepoint, installed by an authorised installer. The safest approach is to confirm current model eligibility before ordering.
The third is leaving the site survey too late. A school may know it wants chargers, but the right number of sockets and the most sensible layout depend on the site’s electrical capacity, parking arrangement and likely user demand.
Can Schools Open the Chargers to the Public?
Yes, that is possible, and the application form asks whether you plan to open the chargepoints for public use. Some schools may decide to keep chargers restricted to staff and approved users. Others may consider wider access or paid public use outside school hours.
If you do want to open the chargers to the public and charge for usage, you will need to make sure the setup complies with the Public Chargepoint Regulations 2023 and the related government guidance.
That does not mean every school should do it. In many cases, the right approach will depend on safeguarding, access control, site management and who the chargers are really for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can academy trusts claim for more than 40 sockets?
Yes, potentially. Academy trusts can apply for up to 40 sockets for each institution within the trust, not just 40 across the entire trust.
How quickly do you get a decision?
If the application is successful, the institution should receive a voucher code within 5 working days.
How long is the voucher valid for?
The voucher is valid for 180 days, and the installation must be completed within that time.
Do schools get paid directly?
No. The installer claims the grant on your behalf and deducts the grant value from your invoice.
Can independent schools use this grant?
No. Independent schools should look at the standard Workplace Charging Scheme route instead of the education-specific grant.
Do we need a specific charger model?
You need an eligible commercial chargepoint installed by an authorised installer. Because the OZEV model list is updated regularly, it is best to confirm eligibility at the time of application and ordering.
Ready to Start?
If your school, college or trust is planning EV charging, the next sensible step is to get the project scoped properly before you apply. That usually means deciding how many sockets you need, checking the site’s electrical capacity, and getting a clear quote for the chargers and supporting products.
LAMPS can help you compare commercial EV chargers, source the wider installation products for the job, and support you with a practical quote for your project. To talk through your requirements, contact LAMPS.
Further reading: