Honours are flooding in for The Notley Green Primary in Great Notley, considered to be the country’s most environmentally friendly school, in recognition of the uniqueness of this innovative building project developed through Essex County Council and the Design Council.

In December The Notley Green Primary was selected as a prestigious ‘millennium product’ in a ceremony presented by prime minister Tony Blair on the site of the Millennium Dome. On Monday 12 June the school was declared a specialist winner of the Royal Fine Art Commission Trust and Sky Broadcasting’s Millennium Award of the year 2000. The glittering event was held at the Savoy Hotel in London and was presented by The Lord Falconer of Thoroton QC, Minister of State, The Cabinet Office.

On the same day it was declared by the Royal Institute of British Architects to be one of the top 50 buildings of the year. At a separate ceremony at The Nat West Media Centre at the Lords Cricket Ground in London, RIBA president Marco Goldschmied confirmed that all 50 awards will be considered for the Sterling Prize later in the year. He said, ’ And this year there’ll be a special sustainability Award. There are a number of strong contenders, including a school in Essex, which the judges called a trailblazer for sustainable schools.’

Bonny Hart, vice chairman of the Essex education committee and acting portfolio holder for learning services, said, ‘These prestigious accolades are a fitting reward for such a unique and creative building project. It proves the value of partnership and the county council is indebted to the Design Council for their first rate expertise and professionalism in the development of the scheme.’

Children’s writer Michael Rosen will officially open The Notley Primary School on Friday 16 June at 2.15pm.

Note to editors; see also release 13 June 2000 Double boost for Braintree primary schools.

Media contact: Gordon Powell (01245) 435574 or Mike Barnett (01245) 436227.