SCHOOLS in Redditch and Bromsgrove are taking part in Switch Off Fortnight, part of a national education programme ‘Pod’ run by EDF Energy to encourage schools to reduce their energy use.

71 Pod schools throughout the county will be taking part in the fortnight, with recycling activities, saving energy, and using green transport to get to school.

Students at Birchensale Middle School in Redditch, and Finstall First School in Bromsgrove will also be taking their message home to try and spread their green message to their families and friends.

Robyn Thorn, EDF Energy’s national education programme manager, said, “Switch off Fortnight continues to be a great Pod initiative that raises awareness of energy issues within schools and their local community. We hope it will spark year round energy saving behaviour. This year we’re excited to be encouraging children to ‘take it home’, doing some of the great activities they’re been working on at school back at home.”

Olympic Gold medallist Katherine Grainger is backing the fortnight in Worcestershire schools.

She added: “I’m hoping the hundreds of thousands of children at all the schools taking part in Switch Off Fortnight put in gold medal performances. In rowing, conserving energy for the long haul is absolutely vital, and the same is true for how we use energy every day.

“What I’ve seen at just one Pod school is so inspiring. They are working hard as a community to become more sustainable and I’m not surprised that they are a gold medal Pod school. This year, children are taking the energy-saving message home and I’m sure will inspire family and friends to get involved.”