School plans to go green with wind turbine

The plans at Branksome Comprehensive School, in Darlington, could lead to part of the school being run on electricity produced by the wind turbine.

Business studies students at the school have been working on plans to get commercial groups involved to help fund and support the project.

From September the plans will be handed over to the school council, while the group continues the work on a business plan.

Although the plans are only in their infancy, it is an exciting possibility for the school and the community.

If they get the go-ahead, in a few years Branksome could be one of the only schools in the region to have a wind turbine.

The most famous is Cassop Primary School, in County Durham, which won national awards after it became the UK's first wind-powered school.

Branksome students have visited Cassop Primary School for inspiration and hope to work with Clear Skies, a Government-aided group that helps schools to develop environmental projects, and Northumbrian Water through its Making Waves programme.

Deputy headteacher Bernie Coyne said the school had also been working with Carillion, a Leeds construction and business services company.

He said: "There is a gale-force wind that blows behind the school in the winter.

"We hope to secure funding for the wind turbine, but we do not know how much it will cost."

The turbine would boost education and help the school save money on electricity, and would also benefit the environment.

The business studies students have been working with Darlington Borough Council to look at ways that the turbine could help get Cocker Beck, behind the school, moving again because it is stagnant.

A council spokesman said: "This is an exciting project. It is an innovative scheme that the school has got."

The idea is to pump water from nearby Baydale Beck into Cocker Beck, which would get the water flowing, bringing more wildlife such as water voles into the area and improve the environment.