Dursley will be the greenest in country (From Gazette Series)

Dursley will be the greenest in country

7:06am Thursday 17th May 2007 in News By Ali Dent

DURSLEY'S pioneering secondary school is powering away with plans to become the "greenest" school in the country.

Rednock School is using the very latest in eco-technology to bring energy saving gadgets and environmentally-friendly gizmos to the town.

It has enlisted the help of top modern architect Jane Lock-Smith to put staff and pupils' ideas, fit for Tomorrow's World, on the drawing board.

Headteacher Dave Alexander said: "This is so important in terms of sustaining the world. Relating it to education is the only way to do it. We have to make people understand why we need to make things sustainable and how.

"We are hoping to become the forerunner for schools in the country and will be a shining example for people in their everyday lives."

The school has secured planning permission for its £20 million rebuild project, which is due to start in November. Rednock was awarded the money because it was dilapidated and students had to take classes in shocking conditions.

Since the original plans were drawn up, ideas to make the school as eco-friendly as possible have spiralled.

"Pupils from all years did a project on sustainability," said Mr Alexander. "The quality of the writing was so good I sent them to the architect. Since then pupils have formed a shadow core group and are now directly involved in the planning process."

The youngsters have suggested a wall in the school is made from unwanted mobile phones and they want an outdoor amphitheatre and a glass lift in the reception area.

A grass roof, which will absorb water to flush the school toilets, is planned and a biomass burner using woodchips from sustainable forests will provide heating.

Mr Alexander said the school hoped to unite with the Littlecombe development, also planning to be a green super site, to use just one burner for the two projects.

"We want to try to use these innovative ideas to educate students and parents and throw it open to the wider community," he said. "Rednock aims to be a model for how we run our homes in the future."

The school is currently applying for extra funding to finance the eco ideas.

"Sustainable materials initially cost a lot more to set up but they will save us money in the long term," added Mr Alexander.

The new school will be built on the current playing field before the existing classrooms are demolished so pupils will not be disrupted.

The Gazette will be following its progress over the months.