A NANTWICH School was shortlisted for a £10,000 redecoration prize to be used to promote learner-led design and engage children in the classroom.

Brine Leas School, in Audlem Road, has beaten competition throughout the country to be one of six short-listed secondary schools, which the public can now vote on to be the deserving school.

The academy school intends to use the money, provided by Dulux Smarter Spaces, to transform its Modern Foreign Languages wall in the school’s foyer, which is used by 1,400 students a day.

Associate Assistant Head Teacher Charlotte Lewis said: “Brine Leas is a happy, hard-working and dynamic school that seeks to empower students to activate their own creativity and enterprise.

“Our vision is for our foyer to be transformed, through its design and decoration, into an inspirational space that celebrates languages and encourages our students to take their places as citizens of the global community.”

Research showed the school environment affects students’ academic lives through using specific colours to impact experiences, improve cognitive development, wellbeing and attainment.

Nearly 40 per cent of teachers and head teachers claimed classroom environments can affect learning, with 28 per cent suggesting it can have a negative effect on behaviour and 20 per cent believing it can influence attendance.

Matthew Burton leads Channel 4’s Educating Yorkshire and is the Assistant Head Teacher at Thornhill Community Academy in Dewsbury.

He said: “My years as a teacher have taught me how important the aesthetics of a school are in the inspiring learning in the classroom.

“I’ve seen first-hand the effects that school environments can have both on the part of the pupils and the teachers—the way a classroom and a school looks can have a huge impact.”

Public voting is opening until Friday, September 8, with a panel of judges to decide on the two final winning schools according to the set criteria.