A Swindon primary school today called on the support of the town’s businesses as it launched months of fundraising activities to raise £20,000 to buy and install solar panels.
Drove Primary School kicked off the fundraising under the innovative Solar Schools project with a whole-school assembly and a parent’s information meeting. 
The events explained how, once installed, the panels will generate clean electricity, help cut the school’s energy bills and generate additional income which will to be spent on school resources and equipment.
Drove Primary is one of only 15 schools across the country to gain a place on the Solar Schools scheme this year out of 260-plus which registered an interest.
The town centre school aims to be beacon for progressive thinking in clean energy and climate change – helping put Swindon on the map as a low-carbon town.
Businesses can get involved by donating funds or their time and inspiring the school’s pupils to learn more about the impact of its energy use.
The Solar Schools project, run by the carbon cutting campaign 10:10 in partnership with Chippenham-based 100% renewable electricity company Good Energy, provides schools with all the free tools and training they need to fund-raise the cost of installing solar panels.
The project also helps school children learn first-hand about renewable energy, climate change and energy efficiency.
Drove Primary, which has 550 pupils aged three to 11, is aiming to raise enough to buy 40 panels which could earn £2,016 annually for the next 20 years.
Headteacher Helen Swanson said: “We are thrilled to have been chosen as one of this year’s Solar Schools.
“Having solar panels will save us £2,000 a year which we plan to spend on books, school trips and resources. We’re hoping the whole community is going to get behind us, doing our bit to tackle climate change and teaching our pupils about the importance of saving energy.”
Solar Schools campaign manager Amy Cameron added: “Drove more than earned their place on the Solar Schools project thanks to their passion, commitment and some great ideas for raising that cash. It’s going to be a big challenge, but we know, if Swindon gets behind them, they’re more than capable of doing it.”
Good Energy CEO and founder Juliet Davenport OBE said her company was proud to support Solar Schools.
“Our vision is to create a safer, greener Britain and Solar Schools has that in buckets. Education, community and sustainability all working hand in hand, bringing sunshine into our classrooms.”
Drove Primary will be giving the whole community the chance to get involved in its solar-powered efforts, with activities and events throughout the year including discos, cake sales and non-school uniform days.
Fifty schools have already benefited from Solar Schools’ package of on and offline resources and training, including a website which enables parents, local businesses and others to donate virtual solar panels to schools and follow their fundraising progress. So far, schools on the project have raised more than £400,000 and it is expected they will break the half-million barrier this academic year.
For more information, go to http://www.solarschools.org.uk/droveprimary.
