Devizes School officially switched on a £600,000 solar panel project at a ceremony with town MP Claire Perry.

She made the most of her trip, which coincided with Parliament Week, by taking a question and answer session with sixth formers.

Mrs Perry joined headteacher Malcolm Irons and Peter Moorcroft, a director of Kennet Community Energy, for the official switch-on at the school last Wednesday.

A total of 200 solar energy panels are on the roof of the science and applied learning blocks at the school. Mr Moorcroft said as well as generating green energy, information gathered from the panels could be used as part of science and information technology classes.

It is estimated the panels will provide about ten per cent of the school’s energy requirements. The energy firm run by Mr Moorcroft has paid for the installation of panels and will charge the school at a discounted rate for energy.

Mr Irons said: “The project is a significant advance for the school and provides a fantastic opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint and fossil fuel usage.

“It is another step towards our goal of achieving the Eco-School Green Flag award. We teach sustainability and environmental impact in our curriculum and the project is a new and valuable learning resource.

“The installation provides an opportunity for teachers to make the subject very real for students by making them aware of the energy generated and the amount we use.

“We were delighted Claire could come to the school. She had an excellent Question Time with sixth form students who asked her a number of challenging questions.”