Green energy powers County Durham school in new £40m world-class facilities

A COUNTY Durham school has officially opened £40m state-of-the-art facilities putting it among the most modern in the country.

Children at Belmont Community School and Belmont Church of England Primary School are now being taught in modern new builds on their shared campus powered by solar panels and air source heat pumps.

And any excess energy in the county’s first low-carbon school – and one of the first in the country – will be fed out to the local community.

Pupils are also enjoying new cricket facilities, which Durham County Cricket Club will use for its 11-15 youth development programmes.

New football facilities, co-funded by the Football Foundation, including a 3G football pitch will follow and there is also new, ultra-modern art and drama facilities that can be used by community groups.

Headteacher Paul Marsden praised Durham County Council for providing the £40m and Keir Construction for the eye-catching development.

He said: “We are proud to be working and studying in these world-class facilities that are amazing for our school and community – even down to the big car park because car parking is such an issue at so many schools these days.

“Those parking bays have solar panels on them, as does the whole school and renewable energy, including air source heat pumps, is helping to power us.

“We are looking at doing more though, including being able to send surplus clean energy to local Housing Associations because we are very much a community school and we want the community to benefit from all we do.”

More than 1,300 pupils across a wide catchment area – 40 per cent arrive by bus – will attend the school, while community organisations like the Durham Choral Society, Durham Youth Theatre and the Pauline Quirke Academy have been invited to use the new facilities.

Belmont Community School’s Combined Cadet Forces formed a guard of honour for guests at the launch, while head boy Harry Foster and head girl Caitlin ‘Daryll’ Edwards welcomed visitors in the school hall.

Keen sportsman Harry highlighted the new sports and art facilities, while Caitlin said: “Our old build was great, but the new build is truly next level, and the opportunities now are endless.” 

Leader of Durham County Council, Amanda Hopgood, said: “We are really proud of what we have been able to do as an administration – funding this community asset to the tune of £40m.

“It’s not just the pupils themselves – all-important though that is – we’ve also got over 300 young people playing cricket on evenings and weekends and over 200 at performing arts.

“The low carbon aspect is something we’re also very proud of – we have to lead by example to cut emissions and become as carbon neutral as possible.

“It’s now part of our DNA – in anything we do these days, cutting carbon or generating renewable energy is one of the first things we think of.”

City of Durham MP, Mary Foy, said: “It’s amazing compared to the old school and it’s going to make a huge difference to the children’s education and will break down barriers to opportunity.

“It’s also inspirational that it’s a low-carbon building – it shows how it can be done – and it says everything about the ethos of the school that the community might benefit from any energy surplus.”

As much of the old school as possible has been moved into the new builds, saving 50 tonnes of carbon – the equivalent of 45 long-haul flights or 23,000 car miles.

Headteacher Marsden said: “We have a school that is green, and it’s fully embedded in the community.

“It can offer a world-class education to children who are at the heart of everything, and we are grateful for all the hard work by so many people and the investment that has made it possible.

“It has taken three years to get to this point, and it will be another year before absolutely everything is finished, but we now have a wonderful school which will serve and inspire the community for generations to come.”