The school is among 80 UK schools selected to receive a grant in the second phase of The Co-operative Green energy for schools scheme and one of 18 put forward the Co-operative Travel staff as part of The Co-operative Travel Ethical Strategy.

The photvoltiac panels are half funded through The Co-operative’s scheme with match funding from the Government’s Low Carbon Building Programme.  A monitor screen in the school building will display how much energy the panels are generating and how much carbon dioxide they have saved to date.

Mr Foley, Headteacher, on the school roof with Alison Bull, manager of Co-operative Travel, Yeadon, looking at the new solar panels.


Alison said “installing solar panels at this local school is a great way of getting our climate change message across to the whole community.As well as reducing Benton Park’s carbon footprint and saving the school money on electricity bills, the solar panels will help teach the pupils about green energy.”

Headteacher, David Foley added “We work hard to make Benton Park a green school with a range of initiatives and we are grateful to The Co-operative for boosting our efforts in this way.  Schools have an important role to play in educating the next generation about climate change and using solar panels to generate our own renewable energy will help us inspire pupils, staff and parents about green issues.”