Edge’s MK Academy in Milton Keynes was shortlisted for the first ever Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Excellence Awards. The MK Academy was up for the Best Academy award, but was pipped to the post by the South Maidstone Federation Academies at an awards ceremony held in London on 28 November 2008.

With so many new academies in development, we were pleased that the MK Academy was singled out for praise and recognition. Edge’s consultations with students and parents in Milton Keynes and our efforts to create a learning-friendly environment fit in perfectly with BSF’s aims. The competition judges agreed – all are experts with a variety of interests in BSF and education issues, including Sir John Sorrell, Professor Tim Brighouse, Stephen Crowne (CEO of Becta) and Chris Whitehead (chair of the PPP Education Forum).

Tim Byles, chief executive of Partnerships for Schools and chair of the awards judging panel, said, “The nominations showcased BSF as a catalyst for exciting and sustainable design in both new and remodelled schools, innovation in how students get involved in transforming their learning environment, and examples of robust partnerships and new leadership teams emerging.”

BSF is an investment programme aimed at improving facilities for secondary school pupils everywhere in the UK. Find out more here.