All Saints Church of England Academy in Denstone has taken a big step towards becoming carbon neutral following the decommissioning of its oil-fired boiler and the installation of a new air source heat pump in autumn 2021.
Its oil-fired boiler system has been in place for more than two decades, since the building was commissioned in 1999, and was reaching its end of life, with adverse environmental and budgetary impacts. The new system ensures the building is warm and energy efficient providing an environment which supports quality teaching and learning.
Its building energy management system and heating control valves will be also be upgraded, in a move which will see the trust significantly improve its energy efficiency and reduce its annual carbon footprint by more than 21 tonnes.
The school was awarded £96,880 through Staffordshire University Academies Trust, which received the money through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), which supports heat decarbonisation projects within the public sector. The scheme is funded by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and delivered by Salix Finance, which improves energy efficiency in the public sector.
Jo Goodwin, office manager at All Saints, described how proud the academy is in becoming one of the first schools in the trust to lead the way in reducing its carbon footprint.
The school has actively involved its pupils in environmental issues. As part of their curriculum, the children have been learning about climate change and, last year, to mark COP26 they learned about positive changes they could make to support a healthier planet.
Key stage 2 children made a pledge of the changes they are committed to with examples including walking more, switching lights and electrical items off, planting and growing more. They also wrote letters to Greg Hands, Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, about their pledges, the new boiler and heating programme and the school’s anticipated improved energy rating.
The academy runs an eco-club, where pupils look after the pond, observe wildlife and learn how to grow and cook their own vegetables. Staff are also encouraged to be more sustainable.
Charles Pegg, programme manager at Salix Finance, said: “It’s been a pleasure working with All Saints Academy. Not only have the staff been heavily invested in the carbon savings of the project but the pupils have been too – in their learning, in their pledges and in their actions.”
The trust consists of 20 academies: 19 primary and one secondary school, serving more than 4,000 pupils.
Hope Kirkham, operations manager at Staffordshire University Academies Trust, said: “We are incredibly pleased with the successful application to the decarbonisation scheme. The grant has enabled us to upgrade All Saints heating system to an energy sustainable solution. The new system has enhanced the teaching and learning environment in school, and is much more in-keeping with the Academy’s sustainability initiatives.”
Further information about the PSDS can be found on Salix Finance’s website.
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