A NORTH-East school has been named as the Best Educational Building in England and Wales for its technical innovation and craftsmanship.

Yarm School’s Music School and Boathouse earned national recognition during a Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Awards ceremony hosted in London.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council nominated the Yarm School development to the LABC regional awards before the North-East site was crowned the overall winner above other entries including universities.

The music school houses specialist music classrooms, ten instrumental tuition rooms, a drumming suite and a high-tech recording studio, alongside a 140-seat lecture theatre.

David Dunn, Yarm School headmaster, said: “The Music School and Boathouse have received many plaudits and we are delighted to have been recognised nationally at the LABC awards.

“The facilities have enhanced the school’s performing arts and sports programmes.

“We are delighted to be launching Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre Live screenings from the lecture theatre this January which are open to the whole community.

“Yarm School worked in partnership with highly skilled architects and construction experts and we are pleased to share such a prestigious award with them.”

Darlington-based Wharton Construction developed the site that is attached to a Grade II listed building.

Peter Wharton, director of Wharton Construction, said: “The Music School is designed to have superior sound proofing qualities by constructing the walls using an in-situ poured concrete system which were then hidden behind render and stone to create a functional and stylish building that we are very proud of, and hope that it will serve the school well for many years.”