THE new St. Ambrose College can claim to be one of the best built and designed schools in the region after winning a top design prize.

The school has just won an LABC Building Excellence Award for Best Education Building in the north west LABC Building Excellence Awards are all about the essence of good buildings. Finalists are not judged on architectural beauty, but on the "excellence" shown from a construction and technical building control point of view.

The ambitious new £22.5m school building opened just over a year ago.

St. Ambrose College headteacher Michael Thompson said: “I am delighted the work of Trafford MBC's Building Control team has been recognised. Together with Sheppard Robson and Balfour Beatty, we have created an inspiring new building which is helping to transform the delivery of teaching and learning for this generation and generations to come.”