BSF school wins Sterling prize

A school built under the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme has been awarded the prestigious Sterling Prize – UK architecture’s most coveted award.

Burntwood School in Wandsworth was rebuilt as part of the council’s BSF programme between 2012-14, having been given the go-ahead by then-Education Secretary Michael Gove despite him having cancelled new BSF deals.

The school is comprised of six buildings across the ‘campus’: four, four-storey ‘teaching pavilions’, plus a sports hall and performing arts centre. It was designed by architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris.

The Sterling Prize is run by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and each year it is awarded to what it considers to be the UK’s best new building.

“With the UK facing a huge shortage of school places, it is vital we learn lessons from Burntwood,” said RIBA president Jane Duncan.

She added that the project "shows us how superb school design can be at the heart of raising our children's educational enjoyment and achievement".