THE arrival of a wind turbine at one local primary school will soon be providing a range of new learning opportunities for its pupils.

Five years in the planning, Chapel St Leonards Primary School saw their new turbine installed last month and a final piece of equipment is soon to be added which will allow pupils to collect and evaluate data.

The 6kw turbine has been funded by Government and National Lottery grants totally £26,315. The electricity generated by the turbine will go back into the grid, reducing the school's electrical input and saving around £1,000 a year.

Headteacher Keith Thrower said: "We are all excited by the arrival of the wind turbine. It's been hard work getting the grants to make this project happen but we're all thrilled by its completion.

"A whole range of focused learning opportunities have happened around the wind turbine and will continue to do so for all our children. Creatively, mechanically and scientifically the chance for writing, drawing and data collection of the information that the turbine generate is enormous. It's vital, in this day and age that children are aware of the need for clean sustainable energy sources.

"It ties in with the bigger picture of sustainable energy and teaches our pupils that there is a need for clean, green and free energy not just for them but also for future generations. The turbine will enable the school to generate free electricity to free up resources for other areas of the curriculum."

The school would like to thank Hugh Keeler and Green Generation Ltd from Horncastle who have supplied and installed the turbine and also community economic development education officer, Paul Johnson from Lincolnshire County Council for his help and advice on completing the grant applications.