Young eco-activists call for school solar panels

An appeal by pupils to have solar panels installed at their school has been mentioned during a Parliamentary debate.

Year 5 students at Brigstock Latham's Primary School wrote to Lee Barron, the Labour MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire, who brought their comments to a House of Commons debate on rooftop solar power on Tuesday.

Barron said the pupils told him having solar panels would allow their school to cut their carbon footprint, reduce bills and help improve their education, with one pupil writing "we may be a small school, but we can be big sometimes".

The pupils were congratulated "on their incredible spirit" by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.

"Young people right across the country care about these issues," he said.

"Also, they are pointing out something really important, which is that we have this free resource of the sun and we should use it.

"That is why putting solar panels on schools and elsewhere is big project for Great British Energy."

In March, the government announced hundreds of schools and hospitals would receive £180m for solar panels from the new state-owned energy company.

Brigstock Latham's said it was "so proud of our eco-activists" and explained the children had heard about funding for other schools to get solar panels and "they felt it was unfair that we didn't get any funding".

The school, in the village of Brigstock, which has about 15 children in each of its year groups, said solar panels would help it to become more sustainable and save money.

It said its pupils were "courageous advocates for green energy and wanting to look after our planet".

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