SCHOOLS across Oxfordshire could soon follow the example of an Oxford primary school generating its own electricity with a wind turbine.

The 14m turbine, which started turning at Sandhills Community School in Headington in January, was officially unveiled on Friday by Oxford East MP Andrew Smith.

Staff at the school in Terrett Avenue say the £28,500 windmill will provide a quarter of the school's electricity and save about £1,500 a year in fuel bills.

Headteacher Joe Johnson said: "This is a tremendously exciting project for the pupils and I'm sure they will always remember this day.

"In the summer holidays the turbine will produce more energy than the school actually needs, so we are investigating selling the surplus energy to the National Grid.

"Over the past two or three years the school has won a number of environmental awards, which led us towards building the turbine.

"I'm sure this will kickstart lots of other projects in Oxfordshire - I have already had a number of calls from different headteachers, including Kate Curtis at Wheatley Park School.

"A group of pupils from Wheatley Park School have already visited to find out more about the turbine and how it works."

The 192 pupils will soon be able to monitor the power output in real time on a screen inside the school, which was rebuilt on the site in 2003.

Mr Johnson acknowledged the turbine, built in the Green Belt, was not universally popular. He added: "The turbine is about 10 yards from the A40, so it has already become a real landmark. The turbine was switched on at the end of January and has been going well ever since - it's a leap year this year and I feel we have taken a real leap into the future with this."

Pupils waved handheld windmills made out of recycled paper as Mr Smith presented teacher Maureen Stephens with some flowers. She has led a number of eco-projects including the turbine development.

Mr Smith said: "This is a great achievement. Sandhills is leading the way for other schools in the county and across the country."

Khaya Newman, nine, from Risinghurst, said: "This will save money for the school and help the environment."

Filipe Silva, nine, from Risinghurst, added: "This is a good example for other schools and for the local community."

Jordan Lawfull, ten, from Risinghurst, said: "This will help to stop global warming."

The first school in Oxfordshire to put up a large-scale wind turbine was Berinsfield Community Primary in 2006.

In 2000, East Hagbourne Primary School near Didcot was one of the first in the country to erect a micro-wind turbine to generate heat and light for cycle sheds.