Climate Minister and Earley MP visit Whiteknights Primary School
Whiteknights Primary School hosted a special event on Monday 9 June, celebrating its ongoing commitment to sustainability and its journey towards achieving Net Zero. They welcomed a group of guests, including climate minister Kerry McCarthy, and Yuan Yang, the local MP for Earley and Woodley. Representatives from the Net Zero Accelerator Pathfinder Programme, BPET Chief Executive Mark Greatrex, BPET Head of Operations Jane Aust, and members of the local media also attended.
The event featured a Key Stage 2 assembly led by Ms Yang, a guided tour of the school grounds showcasing sustainability initiatives, and a hands-on workshop with members of the School Eco Council. These activities highlighted the school's dedication to reducing energy use, promoting recycling, and supporting rewilding efforts.
Whiteknights Primary School is one of the first 11 schools in the country to receive rooftop solar panels through the Net Zero Accelerator Pathfinder Programme, an initiative commissioned by the Department for Education to help schools meet the Net Zero challenge by 2030. The newly installed solar panels are expected to save the school up to £4,500 per year, allowing more funds to be directed towards education. "Overall that means less money spent on energy and heating bills [and] more money to for the school to actually spend on students' education," said MP for Earley and Woodley Yuan Yang.
Additionally, the panels will generate electricity even during weekends and school holidays, contributing to the national grid. Whiteknights Primary School is also planning to bring parents in to talk about energy efficiency. The climate minister, Kerry McCarthy said: "It's often the children who asked the most incitive questions about climate change and the future"
The event was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the positive steps the school community is taking to care for the planet. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to making the day such a success!
Net Zero MP visit
