Rural Whitfield school set to blaze a green trail

Sep 29 2009 by Amy Hunt, The Journal

“By cutting the school’s carbon emissions to zero, this scheme represents a natural progression to our success under the international Eco-Schools programme and as a Climate Change lead school. It will see us leading the field in delivering the Government’s Sustainable Schools agenda.”

Sustainable Schools, the Government’s department for education’s initiative, requires all new schools to be fully carbon neutral by 2016, something which few in the UK have yet achieved.

In Whitfield, the renewable energy measures are being funded by the Government’s Low Carbon Buildings Programme and the Big Lottery’s Community Sustainable Energy Programme.

Building and refurbishment work is being funded by the Church of England’s Diocese of Newcastle.

The North Pennines Dales LEADER Programme and Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All initiative are also contributing towards a range of awareness raising and information sharing measures designed to extend the benefits of the scheme.

Eileen Bell, of the Diocese of Newcastle said: “We are delighted to be associated with this forward-thinking project which will not only improve the long-term financial viability of a much-loved school, but will also deliver tangible environmental and educational benefits.

“We hope this scheme will provide a model of best practice, trying out ideas which can easily be replicated elsewhere.”

The work will be complete by Easter 2010.