Merstham Park "Commended" at Awards!

Our school is incredibly proud to have been a finalist for a national award.

We made the final and were "commended" in the School Building Award category at the Education Business Awards where other competitors came from Nottingham, Hertfordshire, Lancashire and Gloucestershire.

Colleagues from GLF Schools, the multi-academy trust to which we belong, headed to the Leonardo Royal Hotel in central London for the awards ceremony on Wednesday 14 June.

Olympic athlete Donna Fraser OBE made the presentations at the prestigious event.

Our new purpose-built secondary school, which opened last September, was designed and constructed with the environment and its future very much in mind. It delivers a 30 per cent reduction in water demand, a 73 per cent reduction of energy consumption and a 60 per cent reduction in carbon emissions. The building utilises pioneering low or zero carbon techniques.

Among its many features is the ‘chameleon cladding’ of the sports hall which changes colour and blends into its natural environment. The school was delivered as a collaboration between the Department for Education and GLF schools. It has solar panels providing 44 per cent of its energy and air-source heat pumps reduce the gas bill by 97 per cent.

Whilst we didn't win the national award, we are delighted that our neighbours Merstham Primary School - which is also part of GLF Schools - came out top in the Play Space Award category after making a shortlist with four other schools, two in London, one in Lincolnshire and one in West Yorkshire.

Their Early Years Play Area was carefully designed to encourage collaborative play and clear communication and language for children aged two to five. The project was led by Deputy Headteacher Vanessa Cooper and GLF Schools' Early Education and Early Years Specialist Tracey Free. An array of bespoke features were included along with a covered classroom, mud kitchen, sand area, and a stream.

We are delighted to have made the shortlist and are absolutely thrilled that Merstham Primary won their award. 

Having outdoor spaces that promote communication and interaction is vital within all GLF Schools and is making such a difference to all children.