Manchester college sets standard for sustainable schools

A Manchester sixth form college with arguably the best Ofsted report in the country has added another feather to its cap by developing one of the greenest buildings on any campus.


The Loreto Catholic sixth form college in Hulme has been awarded a BREEAM Excellent standard for a new building on its site.

The Ellis and Kennedy building is on a former brownfield site adjacent to the existing college estate and the Learning Skills Council offered to foot the majority of the bill provided it achieved at least a Very Good BREEAM standard.

BRE has called the building a ‘state of the art teaching facility that promotes sustainable design to the college and its wider community’.

The building provides a comfortable working environment with predominantly naturally ventilated spaces, good local controls for heating and lighting, solar control glass and high acoustic targets.

“This building has comprehensively demonstrated its remarkable environmental credentials,” said BRE global chief executive, Carol Atkinson.

“Whilst also providing an excellent learning resource centre, ICT facilities and a library for the students and staff. Congratulations to the project team who surpassed its brief.”

The development was awarded first place in the BREEAM Further Education category at Ecobuild last month.

The college has a long and distinguished history, set up by nuns in 1851.

This year it was the only college in the country to receive the top ‘outstanding’ grade in every category for its Ofsted report.

Sam Bond

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