Manchester City Council

The Wembley Road school won in the Best Healthy Learning Environment category at the 2009 British Council for School Environments (BCSE) awards for best practice in UK design and construction of schools.

170 entries vied for top slots across 13 categories at the awards, being held as part of National School Environments Week. Winners were announced at a ceremony at the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal FC last week.

Entries were received from architects, contractors, suppliers, local authorities and schools themselves for submission across key areas of the design, building and equipping of schools.

Gorton Education Village was the first schools project in the north of England to be completed through the Building Schools for the Future programme as well as the first to have a mainstream and specialist school co-located with shared facilities.

Councillor Sheila Newman, Manchester City Council Executive Member for Children's Services says: "This is a much deserved award. Gorton Education Village provides a top class 21st century learning environment for young people and for staff - an environment that will do much to help further improve learning and outcomes for young people at both schools now and well into the future."

Ty Goddard, chief executive of the BCSE, says: "The quality of entries led to intense debate amongst the judges, which is how it should be. Gorton Education Village shows that the right resources and approach can produce great projects which we can be proud of.

"Our thanks go to all for being willing to invest their time and energy in a project which ensures pupils and teachers have such an inspirational centre to learn, play and teach in."

"These awards are a big 'thank you' to all those across the sectors helping to make our schools better."

More details on the awards, including judging criteria and details of all the winners are available from www.bcse.uk.net.