New ‘electric vehicle’ charging points to be rolled out at schools across Bolton

The 12 charging points will be installed around schools that are part of the Leverhulme Trust, an academies trust that includes institutions across the borough.

They are aimed at making it easier and more practical for pupils’ families to own electric vehicles, which are better for the environment that conventional cars.

A Leverhulme Trust statement said: “A total of 12 EV charging points have been installed across Leverhulme Trust, seven at Harper Green School and five at Rivington and Blackrod High School and Sixth Form, with plans to expand in the future. 

“Each charging point features a QR code for quick sign-up; once registered, users simply scan the code, log in and start charging their vehicle.”

The charging points are being installed across several schools (Image: Leverhulme Trust) It added: “The project is supported by the Workplace Charging Scheme for education institutions, a government initiative designed to increase the number of charging stations across the UK. 

“Since 2016, the scheme has funded over 59,000 workplace charging sockets, including 6,500 in 2024 alone, helping to drive the UK’s transition to cleaner energy and more sustainable transport.”

The new charging points mark another step forward in recent years for the trust, which was set up in 2017 and now has more than 3,000 pupils with around 410 members of staff.

The charging points are to help make using electric vehicles easier (Image: Leverhulme Trust) It is now made up of Lostock Primary School, Rivington and Blackrod Sixth Form, Rivington and Blackrod High School and Harper Green High School. 

Earlier this year the trust was able to celebrate news that one of its newest member schools, Lostock Primary, had been deemed “outstanding” by Ofsted inspectors.

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The Glengarth Drive-based primary school had joined the Leverhulme Trust just weeks earlier as of March 1.

Trust leaders now hope that they will be able to expand on the new wave electrical charging points in the near future. 

A Leverhulme Trust statement said: “The introduction of these EV charging points marks a significant step in supporting sustainable travel for the school community. 

“Plans are already underway to potentially expand the initiative to additional schools within the trust, ensuring greater accessibility to EV charging in the future.”