RELATED: Which schools qualify for the education Workplace Charging Scheme?
The Numbers, Side by Side
| Scheme | Who | Rate | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| WCS for state funded education | State funded schools, academies, colleges, nurseries | 75% up to £2,000 per socket | 40 sockets per school, up to £80,000 |
| Standard Workplace Charging Scheme | Independent schools, universities, businesses | 75% up to £500 per socket | 40 sockets across all sites |
A worked example. A secondary school installing 10 sockets at £2,400 each pays £24,000 before the grant. The grant covers 75 percent up to £2,000 per socket, £20,000 in this case. The school pays £4,000 for a 10 socket installation.
The April 2026 Change Most Pages Have Wrong
Two grant rates moved on 1 April 2026, in opposite directions. The standard workplace rate went up, £350 to £500. The education rate went down, £2,500 to £2,000. Plenty of guides still quote £2,500 for schools, so treat any page without a date on it carefully.
One transitional detail. Schools that applied before 1 April 2026 keep the £2,500 rate if their vouchers are redeemed by 30 September 2026. If that is you, the clock matters more than the paperwork, and we can prioritise the installation to hit the deadline.
RELATED: How does a school apply for the EV charging grant?
What the Grant Covers
The grant applies to the purchase and installation of the chargepoints, which in practice covers the units, the electrical work and the commissioning. Each socket must deliver at least 3kW, and every one we install is a 7kW smart unit, well above the bar.
The 40 socket cap counts across every scheme the school has used, so previous workplace scheme claims reduce the headroom. Academy trusts apply per school, and each school gets its own 40 socket allowance, which is where the numbers get genuinely large for a trust.
Funding is confirmed until 31 March 2027. After watching the homeowner grant close in 2022 and the infrastructure grants close in March 2026, our honest advice is not to assume an extension.
