Notting Hill & Ealing High School (NHEHS) has won the 2025 NLA Award for Education, with judges praising its new junior school building as a benchmark for sustainable, modern learning spaces in London.
Designed by Hawkins\Brown, the project was recognised for combining environmentally responsible construction with interiors designed to support pupils’ wellbeing and connect classrooms to outdoor space. Backed by the Mayor of London, the NLA Awards recognise projects aimed at improving the capital.
The building’s exterior uses large areas of glazing and “hit-and-miss” brickwork, a pattern intended to echo the surrounding area. Inside, cross-laminated timber beams and floors sit alongside other natural materials to create light-filled spaces.
Facilities include specialist teaching rooms for art, science, music and computing, as well as additional classrooms for sixth form students. A large multi-use hall and a library topped with a rooftop lantern are also part of the development, alongside classrooms described by the school as equipped for “future-focused” learning.
Outdoor space has been planned to support hands-on activity, including a science garden, a reception play area, a forest school zone and playgrounds for different year groups. A central foyer provides a flexible area for informal learning and small-group work.
Kate Bevan, head of the junior school, said: “Our new school supports us in delivering the exceptional education our students deserve. They strengthen teaching in core subjects while also enabling a rich programme in sport, music, and the arts.”
