THE winds of change are blowing through an Oxford primary school as it begins to generate its own electricity.

The blades of the turbine started turning at Sandhills Community School, in Terret Avenue, on Friday, after an 18-month fundraising campaign.

The school says the £28,500, 14-metre-high (46ft) windmill will provide a quarter of the school's electricity and save it about £1,500 a year in power bills.

Headteacher Joe Johnson said: "I'm delighted that we will now be able to generate our own electricity.

"This is the first turbine of its kind within the city and I hope there will be many, many more.

"Every time it turns, it's saving carbon and energy and, apart from the capital costs, it's free."

In December, Sandhills became the 13th school in Oxfordshire to be given the Eco-Schools Green Flag Award for its recycling and energy conservation work.

Mr Johnson acknowledged the school's latest initiative had not been universally welcomed, especially as the site is in the Green Belt.

He said: "Some people had concerns about the noise, but unlike other turbines, this one doesn't have any gears, so it's a lot quieter than others.

"It's also right beside the A40, so any noise is drowned out by the traffic."

He added: "It is ten yards from the A40 so everybody driving out of Oxford and coming in from London will see it clearly. It will have an effect on thousands and thousands of people every day, so you cannot actually measure the wider impact.

"It will make people think and it raises the issue in their minds.

"I hope this turbine will become a monument as you approach Oxford."

The fundraising drive was co-ordinated by supply teacher Maureen Stephens and donations included £10,500 from the Low-Energy Carbon Fund, £5,000 each from the county council, the city council and Currys and £4,000 from Minns Estates.

The school raised £1,500 with a number of special events and Elm Ltd carried out the groundwork for the mast free of charge.