A VILLAGE school described as a 'first-class facility' for the community has won a national award.

Bere Regis Primary School, which was completed in December 2016, triumphed at the Civic Building of the Year Awards, promoted through the Society for Public Architecture, Construction, Engineering and Surveying (SPACES). It won in the innovation category.

It was constructed as part of Dorset County Council’s (DCC) Purbeck schools reorganisation programme and followed the ‘baseline design’ approach developed by the council’s Dorset Property team.

Baseline design, says DCC, is a standardised, repeatable design that provides low cost solutions without compromising quality.

The new 140-place primary school includes five class bases, a hall, games court, grass playing field and a pre-school facility. The previous old brick building was home to the school for over 80 years and was considered inappropriate for teaching the modern curriculum.

Cllr Daryl Turner, the county council’s cabinet member for the natural and built environment, said: "I am pleased with the recognition for Dorset Property working with its children’s services client on the ‘baseline’ school project at Bere Regis.

"A product of the savings driven from the Purbeck reorganisation and already a bronze Considerate Constructors Award winner.”

The main contractor of the project was Morgan Sindall.

Speaking earlier this year - after his school was shortlisted - headteacher Wayne Roberts said: “It’s a wonderful new facility which will add hugely to what we can offer the children here at the school.”

The choice of materials and their colours were used to blend the building into the natural rural environment. While the series of high level windows were designed to 'give visual character and ensure maximum use of natural ventilation and day lighting'.

Photovoltaic panels, high levels of thermal insulation and robust sound and air tightness details were also adopted top help with energy costs.

The school was also designed to be used by the community by providing access to the school hall, toilets and a kitchen area without compromising security of the teaching spaces.

Cllr Peter Wharf, county council member for north west Purbeck, said: "The new Bere Regis Primary School is a first-class facility for local people."