14 June 2011
Crispin School Scoops £10,000 for low carbon project
EDF Energy Somerset Green Schools Challenge winners announced
Crispin School in Somerset has won the EDF Energy Somerset Green Schools Challenge and scooped £10,000 to spend on a low carbon project developed by students.
Teams of 14 year olds from Ansford School in Castle Cary, Heathfield Community School in Taunton, King Alfred School in Highbridge, The Castle School in Taunton and Crispin School in Street entered the ‘Dragons’ Den’ to present their proposals for a low carbon project at the challenge final at Somerset County Cricket Club on Thursday (June 2).
And each is now set to share its ideas with thousands of schools across the country, with all five projects being showcased and shared with the 12,500 schools that are part of the Pod, EDF Energy’s programme for greener schools, at www.jointhepod.org
The judging panel of Darren Towers, EDF Energy’s Head of Sustainability, Lord Cameron of Dillington, Rupert Cox, Chairman of Somerset Chamber of Commerce and local environmentalist Julia Hailes MBE assessed each project proposal, quizzing students on their plans, before deciding which schools to award funds to from the £15,000 prize pot.
Judge Darren Towers, EDF Energy’s Head of Sustainability, said: “We were really impressed with all five projects. There were so many great ideas like eco-classrooms, compost toilets, methods to cut energy use and reuse rain water, environmental days, Fair Trade credits and renewable energy.
“The students talked us through their proposals and were ready to respond to our questions. Well done to everyone who took part in the challenge, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the funding helps as schools progress their low carbon approach.”
Crispin School won £10,000 for its project to implement a range of low carbon initiatives including an eco-toilet, thermostats to improve temperature control and reduce energy consumption, introducing biodiesel storage, ‘skills for the 21st century’ trainers, a willow coppice, biomass boiler and a cashless Fair Trade credits system.
Students Jake Edwards, Phoebe Collins and Jake Roberts led the presentation, supported by Sam Todd, Tom Milroy and Oliver Derbidge.
EDF Energy’s Darren Towers said: “It was a fantastic project very well presented and full of clear, well costed thought out ideas. They’d done their research and their proposals build on a lot of good work that’s already going on at Crispin School. They’d also found ways to involve students who couldn’t present on the day itself through use of video so they were brilliantly creative too. It was a thoroughly deserved win and inspiring for all of the judges.”
Jake Roberts, 14, said: “It was a memorable experience - the tension when the results were announced, the screams of joy when the trophy was given and the celebration on the bus ride home. We were nervous before we presented to ‘the Dragons’ who did their job well, but then relaxed afterwards and they gave us all a pat on the back and some kind comments. The cricket club was perfect, with a warm welcome, fantastic food and a top tour.”
Thomas Milroy, 14, said: “We had fun and we learnt about other schools’ ideas. When the results were revealed, in reverse order, it got more and more tense until Crispin was announced. The ‘Dragons’ were nice and asked some great questions, which will help us improve our plans.”
Teacher David Wrathall said: “This is a wonderful tribute to all the hard work these students have put in over the past nine months and I’m very proud of them. I’m sure, through EDF Energy’s The Pod education programme their efforts will inspire other schools around the country to take on the challenges of climate change and dwindling energy resources in a positive way.”
Heathfield School won £2,000 for a project to develop an outdoor environmental space, including a greenhouse made out of recycled plastic bottles.
Presented by students Abi Durban, Leanne Holden and Tom Larcombe, they had also thought about how to reduce food waste at the school and reuse unavoidable waste in the environmental garden they have planned. The garden will also feature water butts, recycled tractor tyres as planters, bug hotels and disabled access. The judges were impressed that students were keen to look after the garden in their holiday time too.
Judge Lord Cameron said: “With the Earth already overflowing with humans and growing by 80 million people a year, the next generation is going to have its work cut out to keep our planet healthy. But having seen the inspiration, energy and responsible enthusiasm of some of our Somerset youngsters, I have absolutely no doubt that at least this part of the world will be in safe hands.”
Pupils Hannah Dowell and Becky Jones at King Alfred School were given £1000 towards their sustainable efforts. They unveiled an ambitious plan for an eco-classroom, with a green roof and low carbon energy, with two models built by students detailing the plan. The judges were impressed with their presentation skills and attention to detail in their proposals.
The Castle School won £1000. Students Beth Curtis, Peter Anderson and Kelly Moore told the judges their plans, which include robust recycling bins in every corridor and classroom, an annual green day to raise awareness of environmental issues, and a walk to school campaign. They aim to reduce their energy use by 10% with a competition across the school to encourage energy efficiency. The judges were impressed by the student presenters and their understanding of the need to take action on climate change.
Ansford School received £1000 towards developing their ‘Zero Zone’. They used a model of the outdoor classroom to explain their plan to the judges, with the structure featuring roll-down canvas sides, a recycled canvas roof and use of renewable energy. Students Lottie Savage, Ella Reeves and Ruby Craner-Buckley were praised by the judges for their great ideas.
As well as presenting to the judging panel, students got a tour of the ground and club museum and were entertained with science workshops from Future 4 Science.
Robyn Broughton, EDF Energy’s schools programme manager, said: “The EDF Energy Somerset Green Schools Challenge is an educational experience, through which young people learn more about climate change, the environment and the sustainable use of energy, as they create and design a proposal for a local carbon reduction project.
“We’re delighted with how schools responded and hope their successes can inspire them and others as they continue their sustainable journeys.”
For more information on the Pod go to www.jointhepod.org
ENDS
For photos and more information, contact Dan Pritchard in the EDF Energy press office on 01392 813783.
Notes to Editors
EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies and the largest producer of low-carbon electricity, producing around one-sixth of the nation's electricity from its nuclear power stations, wind farms, coal and gas power stations and combined heat and power plants. The company supplies gas and electricity to more than 5.5 million business and residential customer accounts and is the biggest supplier of electricity by volume in Great Britain.
EDF Energy’s safe and secure operation of its eight existing nuclear power stations at sites across the country makes it the UK’s largest generator of low carbon electricity. EDF Energy is also leading the UK's nuclear renaissance and has published plans to build four new nuclear plants, subject to the right investment framework. These new plants could generate enough low carbon electricity for about 40% of Britain’s homes. They would make an important contribution to the UK’s future needs for clean, secure and affordable energy. The project is already creating business and job opportunities for British companies and workers.
Through Our Sustainability Commitments, EDF Energy has launched one of the biggest environmental and social programmes of any British energy company and the company has since been awarded the highest ranking of Platinum Plus in Business in the Community’s 2011 Corporate Responsibility Index, the UK’s leading voluntary benchmark of corporate responsibility.
EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company is also helping its customers and others use energy more sustainably through products and initiatives such as Team Green Britain, smart meters and electric vehicle research.
EDF Energy is part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. The company employs around 15,000 people at locations across the UK.
The Pod
Launched in September 2008, the Pod sits at the heart of EDF Energy’s programme for greener schools. It was developed to help EDF Energy meet its Social commitment of engaging with 2.5 million children by 2012 in learning about the sustainable use of energy. The Pod now has over 11000 registered schools and aims to make real and measurable difference to the energy usage and carbon output of schools across the UK and to provide practical support, activities and materials for teachers.
www.jointhepod.org is an interactive website for teachers providing free lesson plans, activities, games and information all with cross curricular links. The content is currently aimed at key stages 1, 2 and 3. The ethos of the Pod is ‘Share your ideas and inspire each other’, which is why the site also encourages pupils and teachers to blog about their activities and to post photos and videos to showcase their green projects – all of this great material can be seen on the Pod Gallery at http://www.jointhepod.org/gallery/default .
In addition, the Pod runs three campaigns each year, all designed to help the whole school, parents and the local community to engage in living a more sustainable life.
Teaching materials have been written with the help of the Eden Project and all activities have been endorsed by Eco-Schools, the largest environmental schools programme in the world. Completing any activity on the Pod will help with a school’s application for a bronze, silver and green flag Eco-Schools award.