FEATURED STORY

Academy highly commended in awards

The Milton Keynes Academy has been highly commended for its inspirational use of outside space.

The Academy, which has been designed as a beacon for the local landscape, has been highly commended in the Most Inspirational Use of Outdoor Space category in the national Excellence in BSF Awards 2009.

Tim Byles, Chief Executive of Partnerships for Schools and Chair of the Excellence in BSF Awards judging panel, said: "This year's entries captured the excitement, innovation and real sense of the difference BSF is making to young people, to teachers and to communities across the country, making it an even tougher job for us to select the winners from across the 19 categories.

"Each of our award-winning and highly commended projects are shining examples of how BSF is having a positive impact on so many areas of life: from getting pupils involved in making decisions about their new schools; providing buildings and facilities which can be used by the entire community for education and leisure; developing robust public-private partnerships that deliver value for money to the public purse; and giving leadership teams the chance to implement new strategies to help students reach their full potential. "

The judges noted that The Milton Keynes Academy provides provide plenty of areas where students can learn outside. They were also impressed with how the landscape design flows up to and through the school to the countryside beyond, connecting the Academy to its surroundings. "The Excellence in BSF Awards also provide us with an opportunity to reflect on how far the programme has come over the past 12 months and to celebrate the 110,000 pupils, as well as teachers and communities who are now benefitting from safe, inspiring and green places to learn thanks to BSF."

Keith Papa, BDP Architect Director for The Milton Keynes Academy said: "It is extremely rewarding for us that The Milton Keynes Academy has received this accolade from the people who know what it takes to make a great new school. We are delighted to have been part of the making of a delightful and inspiring place of learning."