The Energy Experience - a teacher's perspective

Dilys Cranstone, a teacher at Cantrall Primary School, is now a confirmed fan of The Energy Experience after seeing how her children were enthused by the programme:

"We are always looking out for new and exciting ways to teach our students about energy - not always the most exciting subject to teach! We regularly use the Energy Experience; it's packed full of information - curriculum led - and all the lesson planning is done on our behalf. Pupils love to play in the Energy Home and become energy detectives; it really brings the subject to life."

"The volunteering programme, used to support the Energy Experience, is a great extension. E.ON employees are well trained to deliver an exciting and interactive lesson pupils don't forget."

Ashlawn School and Science College is a large, mixed school in a semi-rural location, serving Rugby and the surrounding areas, for students aged 11 to 18. The school achieved Science College status in 2005 and aims develop its students through a scientific/mathematics curriculum and prepare them for their future in our technological and scientifically advanced world.

The school was awarded £15,000 from the E.ON SOURCE fund towards the cost of installing a wind turbine on its playing field. As well as the power that the wind turbine will generate, the school plans to display data from the turbine on a screen in its reception and upload it onto its website. This information will be used by classes across the curriculum to support work around climate issues.

Clare Carter, the school's business manager said "We are delighted to have worked with E.ON and to have been awarded SOURCE funding for our 12-metre wind turbine project."

"We are very proud to be the first school in Warwickshire to install a wind turbine, which will produce at least 10% of our electricity per year. We are grateful to E.ON for allowing our school to enhance our science college status with such a major structure. It has given us the opportunity to promote the importance of renewable and sustainable energy both to our staff and students and within our local community. We hope other Warwickshire schools will follow suit."

The turbine was formally switched on by the local Member of Parliament during two days devoted to a renewable energy festival, during which all 1,500 pupils abandoned the normal timetable to work on their own green energy projects.