Children at Newington Green Primary School at the start of the fund-raising drive to pay for solar panels

A PROJECT to put solar panels on Newington Green Primary School has nearly reached its fundraising target, two years in the making, thanks to donations from parents and local businesses.

In partnership with the Newington Green Action Group, the primary has almost raised enough cash to install 200 panels on its roof – the first time they have been added to an Islington school for a decade and the largest scheme of its kind in the borough to date.

Although the panels are costly in the short term – around £150,000 in total – they will end up making money for the school to spend on books, classrooms, and teachers, thanks to cheaper energy bills over time.

Newington Green parents Mike Harris and Jemma Phinikas were early and generous supporters of the idea, and told the Tribune this week that they were “delighted” it would be going ahead.

Mr Harris said: “The kids are really motivated and concerned about the climate emergency, so when we said there was this campaign they were really excited and we wanted to get behind that.

“Not only is this the right thing to do in tackling the climate emergency and getting our public buildings to be less carbon intensive, but it’s also about climate justice, because the poorest in our society are going to suffer most from climate change.”

According to Mr Harris and Ms Phinikas, the scheme will generate an additional £1 million in income for Newington Green primary over future years.

This is because solar power is cheaper than energy generated from fossil fuels, which means the panels will help reduce the school’s bills.

With all donations up to £250 currently being match-funded by the Aviva Community Fund, the scheme only needs another £5,000 to get the installation started.

Mr Harris added: “The money the school will get back from this is going straight back into our community, as well as making a cleaner future for our kids. That, for me, is the most important bit.”

The parents also paid tribute to Mildmay Labour councillor Jenny Kay for her “unbelievable determination to make this project happen”, and gave a shout out to headteacher Mairead McDonnell and other teachers for being “such an inspiration to the children at the school”.

Cllr Kay, who is also vice chair of governors at the school and chairs the Newington Green Action Group, said: “It’s been heartwarming to see the community unite behind this project – school parents, local businesses, and residents all stepping up. I’m really pleased that we’re so close to getting this done.”

The hope is that having the panels so close at hand will be educational for children as well as a carbon- and money-saver, because it is a real-world example of how to build a greener future.

This is the first major solar installation for an Islington school, but neighbouring boroughs Hackney and Camden have already got similar schemes up and running

Hackney’s Jubilee Primary School put panels in last year, and Camden’s Regent High and Parliament Hill schools completed the work last summer.

If you want to help the campaign cross the finishing line visit https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/p/newington-green-solar