Education Estates® Awards 2021
Celebrating Excellence & Achievement in Education
There are fifteen categories to choose from - recognising consultants, contractors, architects, projects as well as innovation and sustainability. New for 2021 is the Recognition Award which will celebrate the innovations that education settings have made in response to the Covid-19 crisis. All will be hotly contested and highly prized by the winners who will be celebrated at the Awards Dinner on 12 October. To find out more about each award and decide which categories to enter, click on the images below. Please note that a Project can only be entered into 2 of the below categories. However, the Client of the Project can also be nominated/entered into the Client of the Year category.
The qualifying period for all projects is 1st January 2019 - 31 December 2020.
The deadline for entries is Monday 31 May 2021
For more information or support on how to enter the awards, please contact Tyla Woodgate
Award Categories:
*Please click on the award trophies below to reveal the criteria for each award
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.
Award Category Sponsored By:
Contractor of the Year > £50 million Annual Turnover
Criteria: This award recognises a main contractor with an annual turnover over £50 million 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.
Award Category Sponsored By:
Contractor of the Year < £50 million Annual Turnover
Criteria: This award recognises a main contractor with an annual turnover under £50 million 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.
Award Category Sponsored By:
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.
Award Category Sponsored By:
Client of the Year
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.
Award Category Sponsored By:
Innovation in Delivering Value
Criteria: This award recognises innovation that has helped contribute to value in the design of learning spaces. What is meant by value? Value can be interpreted as monetary, experiential or a combination of other factors. Please explain how the innovation has made a positive impact.
Award Category Sponsored By:
Inspiring Learning Spaces
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.
Award Category Sponsored By:
Project of the Year – Schools
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 labeled to indicate where they were taken.
Award Category Sponsored By:
Project of the Year – Colleges
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.
Award Category Sponsored By:
Project of the Year – Universities
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.
Award Category Sponsored By:
Pupil/Student Experience
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.
Award Category Sponsored By:
Refurbishment of the Year
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).
Award Category Sponsored By:
Inclusive Learning Spaces for All
Criteria: This award recognises the team that has successfully delivered an inclusive learning space for all. Entries must clearly state the team involved and need to include at least 1 testimonial from a pupil/student, teacher, parent or family member.
Award Category Sponsored By:
Department for Education Sustainability Award
Creating a Sustainable Future
Criteria: Following its success in 2019 and 2020, we are proud to announce that the Department for Education 'Sustainability Award' is back for a third 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 reward for the winning school! This award is free to enter.
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 to prepare our young people for the future. Schools 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 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
To enter you will need to submit the following:
- 300 words describing yourself
- 50 words on why you should win
- 1x A3 Poster
or - 5 x Presentation slides
Judging Criteria
Entries will be based on:
- Pupil Engagement
- Staff Engagement
- Community Engagement
- Energy Savings
- Innovation
Award Category Sponsored By:
Recognition Award
Criteria: New for 2021, this award recognises the innovations that education settings have made in response to the Covid-19 crisis. The judges will be looking for information on your experiences, what you did, what you think worked, and what you will carry forward. Please include any examples of innovative ways you engaged learners or ensured progress in learning during the pandemic.
Award Category Sponsored By:
