Devon schools could claim up to £80,000 for EV chargepoints, but the window is closing

Over 500 state-funded schools across Devon are eligible for a substantial government grant to install EV chargepoints. Most have not yet applied. Here is everything school business managers need to know, and why now is the time to act.

A significant funding opportunity, right on your doorstep

Devon is home to more than 500 state-funded schools, from small village primaries on Dartmoor to large secondary colleges in Exeter and Plymouth. Most are wrestling with tight budgets, rising energy costs, and pressure to modernise their facilities. What many do not yet know is that there is a substantial pot of government money sitting unclaimed, specifically set aside to help schools install electric vehicle chargepoints.

The Workplace Charging Scheme for state-funded education institutions gives eligible schools up to £2,000 per chargepoint socket, covering 75% of the total purchase and installation cost. With grants available for up to 40 sockets across all of a school’s sites, the potential funding available to a single institution is considerable.

• Grant per socket: up to £2,000 (covering 75% of purchase and installation)
• Maximum sockets: 40 across all your sites
• Total potential grant: up to £80,000 per school
• Scheme closes: 31 March 2027 (final extension, no renewal planned)

Who qualifies?

The Workplace Charging Scheme for education is administered by OZEV, the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles. It was created specifically to help state schools and colleges build out EV charging infrastructure for staff, visitors, and fleet vehicles.

To be eligible, your school must be:

• State-funded (academies, maintained schools, free schools and colleges all qualify; independent schools do not)
• Located in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
• Able to demonstrate designated, off-street parking facilities associated with your premises
• In need of EV charging, whether current or future

You must also use an OZEV-approved installer, and the chargepoints themselves must be on the OZEV-approved list. Datel Electrical is authorised to carry out installations under the scheme and handles the grant claim on your behalf.

A note for academy trusts

If your school is part of a multi-academy trust, each institution within the trust can apply independently for up to 40 sockets. A trust with 10 schools could access up to £800,000 in combined grant funding across its sites. Separate applications are required for each institution.

Why Devon schools should move quickly

The scheme has been extended until 31 March 2027, but the government has explicitly described this as a final one-year extension. There is no successor scheme currently planned. When this deadline passes, the funding goes with it.

That might sound like plenty of time, but there are several practical reasons why early action matters.

The 180-day voucher window. Once your application is approved, you receive a voucher valid for 180 days. Your installation must be completed within that period. Schools applying in late 2026 risk running out of time before the scheme closes.

Installer capacity. As the March 2027 deadline approaches, demand for OZEV-approved installers across Devon will increase. Schools that move now secure better scheduling and less disruption.

Budget planning. Starting the process early means installations can be planned around school holidays, minimising disruption to pupils and staff.

EV chargepoints as a revenue stream for your school

Installing EV chargepoints is not just about staff convenience or sustainability targets. Devon schools that open their chargepoints to the public outside of school hours can generate a genuine additional income stream, managed simply through chargepoint management software. With EV ownership rising rapidly across Devon, a school car park can become a valuable community charging resource, bringing money directly back to the school.

How Datel Electrical makes the process simple

School business managers and facilities teams are already stretched. The last thing you need is a complex grant application on top of everything else. That is why Datel Electrical manages the entire journey, from the first conversation to the completed installation.

1. We carry out a free site survey and confirm your eligibility under the scheme.
2. We support your OZEV grant application and help you gather the required documentation, including your school’s URN (unique reference number).
3. Once your voucher is issued, we plan the installation around your school calendar.
4. Our OZEV-authorised engineers carry out the full installation with minimal disruption.
5. We claim the grant on your behalf. It is deducted directly from your invoice, so you never handle the money yourself.

Do not leave this funding on the table

Whether you are a primary school in North Devon, a secondary college in Plymouth, or a multi-academy trust with sites across the county, this grant is worth pursuing before it disappears. Devon has over 500 eligible state schools and most have not yet applied. The March 2027 deadline is the last chance to access this level of funding.

Get in touch with us for a free, no-obligation consultation. We will confirm what you are eligible for, explain the process, and give you a clear timeline to get your installation completed well within the grant window.

For more information, you can visit the government website here