Glenleigh Park Primary Academy is a primary school in Bexhill-on-Sea. Over the summer of 2014 SEC installed a 150kW of solar PV (spread out over 7 of their roofs). We think this still one of the largest community owned primary school installations in the UK.

Glenleigh Park Primary Academy  is one of the schools of the Aurora Academies Trust.  Following our first successful installation at Glenleigh Park  other schools in the Aurora Trust joined Schools' Energy Co-operative and now have their own installations.

“Glenleigh Park school is leading the country in its ambitious use of solar panels. As a champion of solar PV for many years, I am delighted to see such a nationally significant project in my own back yard!
Bexhill students and their terrific teachers are showing everyone how you can help our environment and slash your energy bill, in Glenleigh Park’s case by a staggering 75%. We now need other schools to get on board with the solar revolution!”
former MP Gregory Barker (now Lord Barker).

In 2019 Schools' Energy Co-operative celebrated their 50th installation at Perivale Primary School, in Ealing, West London. The Schools’ Energy Co-op were brought on-board thanks to local sustainability group, Ealing Transition, who take practical, local action on climate change, energy and food security.

Audrey Daley, Headteacher at Perivale Primary School said: “When we were told about the opportunity to install solar panels and generate our own clean, green energy it made perfect sense for us to get involved; it fits perfectly with the ethos of our school... We’re able to show the children how we’re making a difference and reducing our carbon footprint. The whole project has helped us think more carefully about how we use energy, and now we’re taking steps to become even more energy efficient, switching much of our lighting to LEDs.”

Reflecting on the looming closure of the government's Feed in Tariff scheme, Mike Smyth, volunteer chair, Schools’ Energy Co-operative continued: “This is a brilliant milestone for the Schools’ Energy Co-operative but it is also bittersweet, as it comes in the wake of government closing the Feed in Tariff scheme. The closure of the Feed in Tariff means that fewer schools will be able to install solar. Now only schools that fit a particular, narrow criteria in terms of geographical position and type of roof will be able to develop financially viable schemes"

"We, along with others in the community energy sector, are calling on government for the reinstatement of the Feed in Tariff or an alternative policy solution that supports community organisations working to make publicly owned buildings more energy efficient and powered by renewable sources. It's a clear way to show young people we want to invest in a sustainable future for them."

Courthouse is a 10:10 Solar Schools school so staff and pupils had already shown their commitment to a sustainable future by raising money to contribute towards their panels.  Joining the Schools' Energy Co-operative allowed the school to increase the size of the array which was installed.

"At Courthouse Junior School we work hard to put the environment at the heart of what we do. We are very proud to have been awarded the Silver eco-school award and working with The Schools Energy Co-operative and 10:10 is key to moving towards gaining the gold eco-school award.

Not only will this project help us to generate our own clean renewable energy which helps us to cut our carbon emissions and our electricity bills but the income generated from the project will help pay for future environmental projects for the school and popular eco club."

Gerry Heynes, Head Teacher

The main buildings at Ashlyns School are listed but the school is building a new sports hall which will also serve the wider community.  The Co-operative has been working with the School and local community group Transition Town Berkhampsted to secure the maximum solar array the new building can accommodate to increase its environmental sustainability.  Students from the school will study the progress of the co-operative in business studies.

"This is an exciting opportunity for us to combine cost saving benefits with an educational resource - and have a beneficial effect on our carbon footprint. Schools should be at the forefront of using technology to reduce our environmental impact but these are often costly; working with the School Energy Co-op has made this possible for us."
Jacky Webby, former Chair of Governors, Ashlyns School