It was announced today, Thursday 20 May, that Hedge End’s Wellstead Primary School has won an award for architectural excellence from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Head Richard Wharton said, “Our school offers a beautiful light, airy learning environment which has a calming effect on the children. They take a real pride in the building and we are sure that this has a positive impact on their learning.”

The school is part of the housing community being developed on what was Dowd’s Farm, Tollbar Way. It opened in 2008 and was designed by Hampshire County Council architects led by Liam Presley.

Mary Wellstead set up the first school in Hedge End in the 1830s and this continued to teach Hedge End children until the National School (St Johns) was opened in 1874/5.

Other RIBA award winners in the South category included the Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum and Corpus Christi College, so Wellstead is in impressive company.

There were 102 awards made altogether, of which 93 went to buildings in the UK and the other nine to buildings elsewhere in Europe – in Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland and Ireland.

Among the other award winners the Dagenham bus drivers’ circular loo (pictured at 3 and properly titled ‘Bus Driver Facility’) has attracted a lot of attention, and Wellstead Primary School is one of many educational facilities to win an award. Private houses, monuments, pavilions, and a bridge were also among the list of buildings and structures recognised.

RIBA President Ruth Reed said: 'The RIBA Awards reflect not only the state of British architecture but also that of its economy. In the midst of the deepest recession in the 45 year history of the RIBA Awards, this year’s awards demonstrate that although times might be hard for architects, there are still great buildings being built throughout the country and overseas.

“The RIBA Awards always give an opportunity for gem-like small projects and less established practices to shine through and this year is no exception. Far from being a size prize, the RIBA Awards are for buildings that offer value to people’s lives.”

If you don’t live near to the school or have children as pupils you might not have seen Wellstead as it’s rather hidden away up in amongst the new houses on Wellstead Way, but if you have and you’d like to comment with your thoughts on the building then add them here!

And if Wellstead is a hidden gem as far as you’re concerned but you’d like to post your views on any other aspect of the RIBA awards then please do! We’d like to hear those too!

And finally, congratulations to Wellstead Primary School!