Ossett primary school celebrates renewable energy scheme with Mayor Tracy Brabin
A green energy upgrade scheme is helping pupils at a Wakefield primary school learn more about what they can do to protect the environment.
Mayor Tracy Brabin visited South Parade Primary School, in Ossett, which has recently installed solar panels as part of a programme worth nearly £2 million.
The scheme is helping organisations lower their energy costs, demonstrating how technology is making the region greener and more resilient to the cost of living crisis.
Since installing the new energy saving measures, the school has cut its energy bills by £6,000 a year, with the money being reinvested into supporting pupils, prioritising staffing and improving its facilities.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Energy bills continue to be at the forefront of everyone’s minds, so it’s only right that we continue to invest in organisations across West Yorkshire, helping them save money that can be reinvested into services people rely on.
“I was delighted to visit South Parade Primary School to see the impact this investment is having, from redirecting savings on energy bills back into the school, to inspiring young people to think about the role they can play in building a region that’s more resilient to future weather events."
During the visit, Mayor Brabin met teachers and pupils to hear more about the impact the solar panels have had on the school.
The schoolkids also took part in a discussion with Mayor Brabin, asking questions about issues that matter to them including climate change, the environment, and their future prospects.
Rebecca Hedges, headteacher of South Parade Primary School, said: “We’re incredibly proud that our solar panels at South Parade Primary are now generating around half of the electricity we use.
"We’ve already produced an amazing 34 megawatt-hours of clean electricity, helping us reduce our carbon footprint, lower our energy costs and help us to play our part in protecting the planet - something we are very passionate about.
“Our green agenda is about more than what we do today; it’s about showing our children how we can all make a difference and helping them grow up with a strong sense of responsibility for the world they will inherit.”