Inspiring Entries Win a Makeover (2018)! Back

Date published: February 22, 2019

Whittle and PPG have been running a competition since 9^th May 2018 to give two educational facilities (one North and one South) the opportunity to win a complete Johnstone’s Paints redecoration makeover for a room of their choice within their school.

As part of the competition, schools were asked to explain why they believe their facility should win the Whittle & Johnstone’s makeover. We had an influx of incredibly inspiring entries from schools spanning the UK, and the judging panel were touched and inspired by all of the entries.

The winning entries came from Westhoughton High School (North region) and Balliol Primary School (South region). They wrote:

“Our school was due for the first wave of BSF funding in Bolton, when the programme funding was stopped. This left us with a school built in the 1930's, having had no investment for a number of years, yet still providing a teaching & learning environment for our students & staff.

However, we would love to win this makeover, to change our small dining room into an Eco Cafe. The students have been asking for this, but we have limited resources. Would the Whittle Eco Cafe be a perfect venue to have lunch!” – Westhoughton High School

“Balliol Primary School is a maintained school situated on the Balliol Estate within Kempston, Bedfordshire. It serves an area of high social deprivation and the school and its facilities are very much at the heart of our community.

We are extremely lucky to have welcomed over 100 new pupils to the school since September 2017 as we have transitioned from Lower to Primary status, and as such, the school site has undergone a complete makeover, including a newly built classroom block for EYFS pupils and renovated classrooms to serve our new Year 5s and 6s.

At a time where mental health, emotional wellbeing and physical fitness are prevalent and at the forefront of our minds, particularly in young people, we are implementing a new approach to wellbeing and behaviour management at our school and trialling a project called 'Kaleidoscope'. The project has quite specific requirements, one of which is a classroom known as the 'Reflection Room'. We need to renovate a room which used to be a staffroom. It is now approaching 64 years since construction and is in desperate need of a new lease of life. The room requires a complete overhaul, starting with new paintwork and carpet.” – Balliol Primary School

Stephen Hankinson, CEO of Hankinson Group and Danielle Aiken Specification Marketing Manager of PPG lead judges said:

“The entries for the Whittle and PPG Johnstone’s ‘Win a Makeover’ competition were of a very high standard. We were very impressed by the entrants’ novel ideas and recognition of how to use paint and colour to improve learning environments and inspire students. We would like to congratulate our winners and send a big thank you to all of the schools who entered into the competition.”

Whittle and PPG are now looking forward to working on the two projects, transforming their rooms into spaces of inspiration. PPG will be providing a Johnstone’s colour consultancy service to help both schools achieve the impact that they are striving for.

Upon reading the entries, Whittle and Johnstone’s wish that they could help and assist everyone who entered, however this just isn’t possible. Nevertheless, all were touched and inspired by the entries to make a difference, and PPG were able to offer a £100 Johnstone’s Paint voucher to the second and third place runners up, which we hope will help them to carry out some of the work they need.

We are hoping to run the competition again in 2019, so watch this space!