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The sky’s the limit for high flying student, Daniel Neal of Leicester Forest East, after he has obtained his pilot’s license (PPL) at the age of just 18.

Daniel, a student at Bosworth Community College, is funding his flying-habit, through a part-time cleaning job and estimates he does 20 hours cleaning for just one hour in the sky.

He fell in love with all things aeronautical at the age of six when his ex-RAF grandfather took him to Waddington International Airshow. His flying skills were honed on his computer flight simulator until he could get into a cockpit at the age of 16 and he first flew solo a month after his 17th birthday. Having passed the seven compulsory ground exams with flying colours, Daniel took his final test in January and with ten minutes over the minimum of 45 hours flight experience under his belt, has just received his license. He trained at Sherwood Flying Club in Nottingham.

Daniel is in year 13, studying physics, maths and biology A levels. He says he has received outstanding academic, social and practical support from his college: “The teachers at Bosworth have gone out of their way to help. There’s a lot of theory to the pilot’s license, so they shaped my projects and studies around flying and really made it relevant for me. The college has also helped practically by giving me the cleaning job, so I can continue pay for my flying. They also set up links with other pilots, and really went above and beyond, in their support and enthusiasm.”

Chris Parkinson, principal of Bosworth Community College, is proud of his high-flying student: “As a teacher, you always try to find the spark that will bring studies to life for a student. It is wonderful to see a young person pursue their passion and to see Daniel’s hard work rewarded.”

Daniel’s immediate aim is to complete his night-flying training. Longer term, he hopes to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. If he is not immediately successful in gaining a training place, he plans to study aeronautical engineering at university, before reapplying.

If all the schools in Leicestershire followed the example of Bosworth Community College, together they could save enough electricity in one year to pay five teachers. This is the surprising conclusion of Leicestershire Council’s ‘How low can you go’ campaign, as the winners are announced. Bosworth Community College was today named the winner in the secondary school with swimming pool category, of the campaign which ran during Switch Off Fortnight (21st Nov – 4th Dec 2011).

The Desford school encouraged staff to switch off lights, interactive whiteboards and IT equipment when leaving a room. It also rationalised lighting and more closely managed the heating system. During peak times the college saved 40 kWh – a saving of £4,000 in a year.

However there is a twist in the tale, as they were the only school to enter this category. “I am delighted we won, but surprised other schools did not value taking up the challenge,” says Chris Parkinson, principal of the college. “Perhaps they did not realise the huge impact small changes in behaviour can make. If all 44 Leicestershire secondary (including high) schools did the same, we could save around £160,000 each year, that’s enough to pay five teachers or purchase a library worth of text books. We want to throw down the gauntlet and dare other schools to follow our lead. Of course, we are only too happy to share our experience and the lessons we have learnt.”

The switch off campaign was not just about saving money, according to Chris: “It’s also about reducing our carbon footprint – in our school alone these simple measures can save nearly 50,000kg of CO2 each year. Ofsted said our students and staff make an outstanding contribution to the wider community, and this is another way in which we can help.”

Now the school plans to extend the scheme and is excited about the potential savings from further initiatives, involving pupils as well as staff. They will be helped by the prize for ‘going so low’ which is a renewable energy kit.