Architectural Practice of the Year 

Criteria: This award recognises an architectural practice which has demonstrated excellence in delivering value and functionality with projects, whilst also promoting best practice in innovative design in the education sector. Please include examples from the last 18 months to showcase the quality of your work and include at least 1 client testimonial.

The judges will be marking the following criteria out of 10:

• Quality of design produced
• Evidence of delivering value
• Client engagement and satisfaction
• Quality of entry and supporting information provided

Supporting information, testimonials and metrics should be included as additional documentation attached to your entry.

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Client of the Year 

Please note that if we receive duplicate entries of the same client in this category, we will be in touch to combine them. We encourage you to speak to the whole project team to enter a joint submission.

Criteria: This award recognises the passion, direction and innovation that a School, Multi-Academy Trust, College, Local Authority or University has shown in either a new build or refurbishment.

The judges will be marking the following criteria out of 10:

• Quality of project example(s)
• Evidence of passion, collaboration and innovation
• Quality of entry and supporting information provided

Supporting information, testimonials and metrics should be included as additional documentation attached to your entry.

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Consultancy of the Year

Criteria: This award recognises a multi-disciplinary consultancy or construction consultants (including building surveyors and project management companies) that has demonstrated outstanding work in the education sector. Please include examples from the last 18 months to showcase the quality of your work and include at least 1 client testimonial. 

The judges will be marking the following criteria out of 10:

• Quality of work produced
• Client engagement and satisfaction
• Quality of entry and supporting information provided

Supporting information, testimonials and metrics should be included as additional documentation attached to your entry.

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Contractor of the Year

Criteria: This award recognises a main contractor that has demonstrated outstanding work in the education sector. Please include examples to showcase the quality of your work and include at least 1 client testimonial. 

The judges will be marking the following criteria out of 10:

• Quality of design and construction
• Client engagement and satisfaction
• Quality of entry and supporting information provided

Supporting information, testimonials and metrics should be included as additional documentation attached to your entry.

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Pupil / Student Experience

Please note that if we receive duplicate entries of the same project in this category, we will be in touch to combine them. We encourage you to speak to the whole project team to enter a joint submission for projects.

Criteria: This award recognises a learning establishment which has undertaken a buildings/facilities investment that significantly improves the pupils/students’ experience and positively enhances their wellbeing. Please explain clearly what difference was made and include before and after photographs. Please also include statements from the client and the designer.  

The judges will be marking the following criteria out of 10:

• Meets the brief in significantly improving the pupils/students’ experience
• Client/user engagement and satisfaction
• Pupil/student experience
• Quality of entry and supporting information provided

Supporting information, testimonials and metrics should be included as additional documentation attached to your entry.

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Inspiring Learning Spaces

Please note that if we receive duplicate entries of the same project in this category, we will be in touch to combine them. We encourage you to speak to the whole project team to enter a joint submission for projects.

Criteria: This award recognises innovation in the creation of inspiring spaces that help to promote different and new ways of learning/teaching and that can be easily replicated across the education estate. Please explain how the space is making a positive impact.  

The judges will be marking the following criteria out of 10:

• Meets the brief in demonstrating inspirational space/s
• Demonstration of positive impact on pupil/student experience
• Quality of entry and supporting information provided

Supporting information, testimonials and metrics should be included as additional documentation attached to your entry.

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Building Resilience: buildings that have stood the test of time

Please note that if we receive duplicate entries of the same project in this category, we will be in touch to combine them. We encourage you to speak to the whole project team to enter a joint submission for projects.

This award will be given to an educational building that demonstrated long-lasting and positive impact, has been proven to be sustainable, adaptable and resilient and is a place that is celebrated by the community it serves.

It’s open to any school, college, or higher education building which has been open since at least 2015. The project could be a newer building, it could be a refurbishment of an older building or it could be a building with innate resilience. It could be a building that was designed for another purpose but has taken on a new life as a place for education.

We will be looking for a strong supporting submission which demonstrates the following criteria:

• User experience: supports educational and organisational requirements, inclusive, enjoyed and valued by the people who use it (e.g. students and staff) – inside and out. Testimonials where appropriate should be included.
• Building performance, longevity and quality: agile/ adaptable, durable, low-energy, environmentally sustainable, affordable to run and maintain. Including metrics and figures where possible.
• Placemaking and impact: fits within its context, cherished by its community, an asset to its locality, raises aspirations

Supporting information, testimonials and metrics should be included as additional documentation attached to your entry.

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Refurbishment of the Year

Please note that if we receive duplicate entries of the same project in this category, we will be in touch to combine them. We encourage you to speak to the whole project team to enter a joint submission for projects.

Criteria: This award recognises either a school, college or university refurbishment project that has made a difference to the educational or research experience. Please explain clearly what difference was made and include before and after photographs.  Entries must clearly state who the client was, the architect(s) and contractor(s) involved and consultant(s).  

The judges will be marking the following criteria out of 10:

• Overall quality of the design and construction of the project
• Client engagement and satisfaction
• Quality of entry and supporting information provided
• Supporting evidence of Carbon and Energy performance

Supporting information, testimonials and metrics should be included as additional documentation attached to your entry.

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Project of the Year - Inclusive Design

Please note that if we receive duplicate entries of the same project in this category, we will be in touch to combine them. We encourage you to speak to the whole project team to enter a joint submission for projects.

Criteria: This award recognises a project that meets the needs of pupils and students with special educational needs. Entries must clearly state the team involved and need to include at least 1 testimonial from a pupil/student, teacher, parent or family member.  

Please note this category is open to UK entries only.

The judges will be marking the following criteria out of 10:

• Overall quality of the design and construction of the project
• Supporting evidence of meeting the needs of pupils and students with special educational needs
• Pupil/student, teacher, parent or family member engagement and satisfaction
• Supporting evidence that a project was carried out ‘with’ young people’s involvement
• Supporting evidence of Carbon and Energy performance

Supporting information, testimonials and metrics should be included as additional documentation attached to your entry.

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Project of the Year - Schools

Please note that if we receive duplicate entries of the same project in this category, we will be in touch to combine them. We encourage you to speak to the whole project team to enter a joint submission for projects.

Criteria: This award recognises a school new build project that has made a difference to the educational or research experience.  Please outline how the project is performing and how it has met the educational objectives.  Entries must clearly state who the School/MAT, the architect(s) and contractor(s) involved and consultant(s). Photographs should be labelled to indicate where they were taken.

Please note this category is open to UK entries only.

The judges will be marking the following criteria out of 10:

• Overall quality of the design and construction of the project
• Demonstration of positive impact on the pupil/student experience
• Client engagement and satisfaction
• Quality of entry and supporting information provided
• Supporting evidence of Carbon and Energy performance

Supporting information, testimonials and metrics should be included as additional documentation attached to your entry.

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Project of the Year - Colleges

Please note that if we receive duplicate entries of the same project in this category, we will be in touch to combine them. We encourage you to speak to the whole project team to enter a joint submission for projects.

Criteria: This award recognises a college new build project that has made a difference to the educational or research experience. Please outline how the project is performing and how it has met the educational objectives. Entries must clearly state who the College, the architect(s) and contractor(s) involved and consultant(s). Photographs should be labelled to indicate where they were taken. 

Please note this category is open to UK entries only.

The judges will be marking the following criteria out of 10:

• Overall quality of the design and construction of the project
• Demonstration of positive impact on the pupil/student experience
• Client engagement and satisfaction
• Quality of entry and supporting information provided
• Supporting evidence of Carbon and Energy performance

Supporting information, testimonials and metrics should be included as additional documentation attached to your entry.

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Project of the Year - Universities 

Please note that if we receive duplicate entries of the same project in this category, we will be in touch to combine them. We encourage you to speak to the whole project team to enter a joint submission for projects.

Criteria: This award recognises a university new build project that has made a difference to the educational or research experience. Please outline how the project is performing and how it has met the educational objectives. Entries must clearly state who the University, the architect(s) and contractor(s) involved and consultant(s). Photographs should be labelled to indicate where they were taken.  

Please note this category is open to UK entries only.

The judges will be marking the following criteria out of 10:

• Demonstration of positive impact on the pupil/student experience
• Overall quality of the design and construction of the project
• Client engagement and satisfaction
• Quality of entry and supporting information provided
• Supporting evidence of Carbon and Energy performance

Supporting information, testimonials and metrics should be included as additional documentation attached to your entry.

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Project of the Year - International

Please note that if we receive duplicate entries of the same project in this category, we will be in touch to combine them. We encourage you to speak to the whole project team to enter a joint submission for projects.

Criteria: This award recognises an International school, college or university new build project that has made a difference to the educational or research experience.  Please outline how the project is performing and how it has met the educational objectives.  Entries must clearly state who the school, college, university, the architect(s) and contractor(s) involved and consultant(s). Photographs should be labelled to indicate where they were taken.  

Please note this category is open to projects outside the UK.

The judges will be marking the following criteria out of 10:

• Demonstration of positive impact on the pupil/student experience
• Overall quality of the design and construction of the project
• Client engagement and satisfaction
• Quality of entry and supporting information provided
• Supporting evidence of Carbon and Energy performance

Supporting information, testimonials and metrics should be included as additional documentation attached to your entry.

Enter here

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Department for Education Sustainability Award

Criteria: We are proud to announce that the Department for Education 'Sustainability Award' is back for a fifth year. We want to hear from you and celebrate the collective efforts that you are making to contribute to towards a more sustainable future. There will be a £2,500 award for the winning school or college!

Sustainability is about meeting the needs of the now and protecting the natural habitats that surround us, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The Department for Education is committed to sustainable development and we believe that it is vital for our schools and colleges to prepare our young people for the future. Schools and colleges are a perfect opportunity to engage the minds of our future leaders in developing sustainable ways of living. It's important for them to understand the principles of what sustainability is, and what it means to be truly sustainable. Sustainability is not just about energy or carbon. Both play a key role but sustainability is also about people, air quality, travel, and physical and mental well-being. It's about delivering change beyond the curriculum. We know that there are lots of fantastic examples across the estate where school and college communities are working really hard to drive sustainable practices in their day to day operations, to play their part and help to tackle the climate change challenge that we all face.

Entry Requirements

• Please note that only State schools or colleges receiving funding through their local authority or directly from the government can enter this award.
• Enter an individual school or college (MATs will not be judged as a whole).

To enter you will need to submit the following:

• 300 words describing yourself
• 50 words on why you should win
• A pack of information demonstrating on either 2 x A3 Poster or 5 x Presentation slides, the incentive, measures and/ or policies implemented in your school or college enhancing sustainability, please use qualitative and quantities data to support your nomination. E.g energy saved, reduction in a paper wastage, increase in biodiversity etc

Judging Criteria

Entries will be based on:

• Pupil Engagement
• Staff Engagement
• Community Engagement
• Measured and recognisable improvements e.g. Energy Savings,
• Innovation

Supporting information, testimonials and metrics should be included as additional documentation attached to your entry.

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