Primary Schools Energy Conference hosted by Applemore College

Primary School students from Waterside and the New Forest had fun at the Schools Energy Conference hosted by Applemore College, finding out how to save energy and water - and money too!The Schools Energy Conference is part of a programme of energy awareness-raising activities for junior-age children run by the Schools Energy Project under the New Forest Transition umbrella. Applemore College students welcomed 60 junior-age pupils (7-11 years old) from Hythe Primary School, Orchard Junior School, Wildground Junior School, Cadland Primary School, and St Luke’s CofE Primary School, Sway to the event on Friday 11^th November.Speakers and exhibitors kept the young students interested and active with talks and hands on displays covering a wide range of energy and water-saving areas. They learned about where electricity and gas came from, and how to use less, both at school and at home. Rose, a student from Hythe Primary School was very interested in Scottish and Southern Energy’s Power Distribution Network model saying “I like the lights and you get to switch all the switches to learn how it works. It’s nice to know what actually happens”.Students were encouraged to ask questions and investigate exhibitors’ displays by being challenged to collect a sticker from each stall through the day. There was no holding back when visiting the Partridge BMW cars, where they were able to sit in a hybrid BMW i8 and electric BMW i3!Following a presentation by Applemore College Eco Committee students explaining the energy improvements they had already made at school, the Primary School students had the opportunity to review their learning from the day and suggest actions they could take both at school and at home. One student had taken the water saving ideas on board, suggesting that he would make sure his sister didn’t spend more than four minutes in the shower!Miss Scott, Orchard Junior School Year 4 leader, was pleased that the new members of their Eco Council had been able to attend, as it gave them some really good ideas to work on this year. Similarly Miss Holland from Wildground Junior School said “the conference has been excellent, putting everything the students have learnt into context. It also gives us some really good ideas for Science Club.”Applemore College Headteacher, Mr Marsh, said: “We would like to thank Cathy Cook, Schools Energy Project Co-ordinator, for organising this very successful conference and liaising with us to host the event. It has been a superb opportunity for our students to guide, encourage and support the visiting Primary School children throughout the day.  Our students’ depth of knowledge on sustainability issues and their maturity has shone through and we are all very proud of them.”