Our New Build

We’re delighted to announce that St Mary’s has achieved 12 of 13 awards since opening as the UK’s first biophilic school. This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to sustainability, wellbeing, and excellence in education.

Number	Year	Organisation	Award Name	Outcome
1	2023	Derby Civic Society	A Beautiful City of Derby	Win
2	2024	AJ100	Sustainability initiative of the year	Win
3	2024	Offsite	Education Property of the year	Win
4	2024	Wood Awards	Education and Public Sector	Win
5	2024	Structural Timber Awards 2024	Education Project of the Year	Win
6	2024	Insider East Midlands Awards	Construction Project of the Year	Highly Commended
7	2024	Insider East Midlands Awards	Sustainability Project of the Year	Win
8	2025	Education Estates	Judges Choice Award	Win
9	2025	RIBA	East Midlands award	Win
10	2025	RIBA	Sustainability	Win
11	2025	RIBA	Project Architect	Win
12	2025	Healthy City Design Awards	Healthy Social Infrastructure	Win
13	2025	British Construction Industry Awards	Biggest Impact Awards – Net Zero Carbon Impact Award	Win

St Mary’s has now reopened as the UK’s greenest primary school.

See our amazing new school below.

St Mary’s is the country’s first biophilic school and has been built as part of a pilot project by the Department for Education.

Biophilic design focuses on connecting those inside with nature, with the goal of promoting physical and mental health.

The school’s original building burnt down in October 2020 and pupils and staff were based at St James’ House, in Mansfield Road, Derby, from April 2021.

Time Lapse Footage of St Mary’s New Build

We are now open!

Media Coverage from our Grand Opening

St Mary’s Catholic Academy in Derby: Best photos as pupils move into UK’s greenest school – Derbyshire Live (derbytelegraph.co.uk)

Derby: Arson-hit school reopens after £8m rebuild – BBC News

BBC One – East Midlands Today, Evening News, 04/12/2023 (go to 10 minutes)

Amazing photos show St Mary’s Catholic Academy school in Derby rebuilt three years after arson attack – Derbyshire Live

New ‘green’ St Mary’s Catholic Academy building in Derby labelled ‘absolutely amazing’ by Ed Miliband – Derbyshire Live

Rising from the ashes: Destroyed Derby school rebuilt to be the most eco-friendly in England – Latest From ITV News

Andy Twigge – 04/12/2023 – BBC Sounds (1.08 in, 1.37 in, 2.08 in and 2.44 in)

St Mary’s New Build News

St Mary’s reopens as UK’s greenest primary school

06/12/2023

St Mary’s – set to re-open in December 2023

03/10/2023

Pupils tour new build with BBC Radio Derby

18/07/2023

Pioneering new eco-build for St Mary’s takes shape

27/06/2023

Ground-breaking ceremony and blessing held at new school site

07/02/2023

St Mary’s – New School Build

14/11/2022

The Initial Concept

Our building will be the country’s first biophilic school, meaning it will be close to nature and its design is focused around plants and wildlife. The building will consist of a primary school and nursery and will be single-storey, made up of a series of pavilions arranged along a central canopy.

In the design, each age group – early years, infants and juniors – had a practical shared learning resource space. In addition, there is an entrance building featuring offices, the hall, chapel and communal areas which are deliberately connected to outdoor spaces.

We are excited that the site will improve pupils’ academic, social, emotional and spiritual outcomes, as well as giving pupils and staff a sense of place and belonging.

Multiple studies have shown that biophilic designs can significantly improve the physical and mental health of building users, namely pupils, staff and visitors.

This is hugely exciting for the whole community and complements Pope Francis’ important messages urging world leaders to take ‘radical’ climate action.