A PRIMARY school is looking to make history as it embarks on a funding bid to make its 19th Century building more sustainable.

Tollesbury Primary School is looking to raise a minimum of £200,000 by April 21 for a decarbonisation project.

The project aims to reduce the school’s carbon emissions by 90 per cent, saving it £14,000 per year on energy bills, and rising to £38,000 after ten years.

The environmental project will allow the community to invest in the future of the school as part of a first-of-its-kind community share offer, created by the Tollesbury Climate Partnership (TCP).

Through TCP, individuals and businesses can invest between £100 and £20,000 into the initiative.

Some of the work it hopes to carry out includes replacing all windows with double glazing, adding loft insulation, cavity walls being filled with the latest insulating material and LED lighting installed throughout the school.

There will also be a modern ground source heat pump connected to the existing radiator network and a 68kW solar array added to generate electricity for the ground source heat pump.

Headteacher Kate Garnett said: “This is an incredible opportunity for Tollesbury Primary School.

“Not only will it put us on the map for making history across the UK, but it is a way for us to invest back into the education of our children, who have been at the heart of the school for more than 100 years.

“The money reclaimed through energy savings will go towards additional learning resources once the school has paid back the TCP share offer.

“As a local authority-run school, we don’t always have access to the funds we need and with the rising cost of living, we need to cut back where we can whilst also taking environmental responsibility and protecting the future of the next generation.

“We really need the support of our pupils, their parents and the community in spreading the message and supporting us on our decarbonisation journey.”

For more information or to pledge support, visit tollesburyclimate.org/invest, email shares@tollesburyclimate.org or call 01621 882785.