Preston Manor Lower School officially opened last June

A £8.5m primary school in Wembley is in the running for three design awards less than a year since it official opened

Preston Manor Lower School in Carlton Avenue East, has been shortlisted for the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Awards for Infrastructure, Design and Innovation, and the Greenbuild Award 2013 for Education Newbuild.

The school, which caters for 420 pupils from reception to year six is based within the Preston Manor Foundation School for older students.

The school achieved a BREEAM rating of Excellent in recognition of the building’s high environmental performance and its design is based around careful positioning on the site to allow the building to maximise passive design ideals, including natural ventilation and daylight.

Along with high levels of insulation, the school also has solar panels and an extensive green roof, while modern methods of construction further enhanced the project’s green credentials.

The school also opens its doors to locals by allowing the community to use the multi use games area (MUGA), school hall, national level hockey pitch, netball court and football pitches.

Cllr Muhammed Butt, Brent Council leader, said: “These awards show our renewed commitment to building world-class schools to provide a better future for all Brent children is paying off. Education is the most powerful tool we have to eradicate poverty and inequality, and the best education requires the best schools possible.”

All three awards ceremony will take place next month.