St Mary’s Voluntary Catholic Academy has been named AJ100 Sustainability Initiative of the Year 2024 for the second year in a row.

As the first completed school to meet the Department for Education’s GenZero specification and the UK's first net zero carbon biophilic school, it aligned with the judges’ primary focus on sustainable practices and community impact. They praised the project for ‘leading by example as an open-source prototype’ as St Mary’s Voluntary Catholic Academy is the pilot to shape the future direction of the GenZero initiative.

The award aims to support leaders in the industry who are actively addressing the climate crisis.

Belinda Morgan, Partner, commented, "This achievement is a testament to our team's commitment to integrating sustainable practices into every aspect of our projects. Our success would not have been possible without the dedication of the entire project team, and together, we are setting new standards for a greener, more sustainable future."