Pupil Power: How Ben Helped Bring Solar Panels to Ackworth Howard

10/06/2025 Danielle

Ben, a Year 6 pupil at Ackworth Howard CofE School in Wakefield, has done what many adults only dream of—he’s helped bring clean, renewable energy to his school.

Thanks to Ben’s determination and passion for the planet, Ackworth Howard has become the first school in Wakefield to benefit from the council’s ambitious £2 million school solar programme. And it all started because Ben chose to speak up.

In this short interview, Ben proudly shares how he got involved:

“I just kept reminding the teachers. I told them it was important. That we needed to do something about climate change.”
Ben - Year 6 pupil, Ackworth Howard CofE School

He’s not just being modest. Ben is the epitome of a Solar Ambassador—a young person who understands the power of student voice, and isn’t afraid to use it. His persistence inspired school leaders to explore options, and through their partnership with Solar for Schools and Wakefield Council, solar panels are now generating clean energy right on the school roof.

A Story Worth Writing About

Ben’s courage and conviction didn’t just move the needle on sustainability—they moved people’s hearts. So much so that his own headteacher, Mr. Walker, was inspired to write a short story based on Ben’s real-life advocacy. The tale, titled Sunlit Solutions, Renewable Revolutions, appears in his self-published book Advocates Arise: Tales of Defying Injustice.

The story reimagines Ben as a bold young changemaker in a world battling energy injustice—leading a quiet but powerful revolution in his own community, even as he grows up.

Ackworth Howard Headteacher Mr Walker's Book

A Beacon of What’s Possible

Ben’s success is proof that children are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they’re leading today. His efforts are already reducing the school’s carbon footprint and showing his classmates how climate action works in real life.

At Solar for Schools, we believe in the power of young voices. Whether they’re measuring kilowatt-hours or lobbying headteachers, children like Ben are lighting the way to a better future.

We’re incredibly proud to support his school and even prouder to call Ben a true Solar Ambassador.

Want to empower more young changemakers like Ben?

Explore our school visit packages or get in touch to learn how your school can be next.