Folly View Primary School, Faringdon
Contemporary School Canopy for a New Building
Part of the Farringdon Learning Trust, Folly View Primary School offers a diverse learning experience for children between 2 and 11 years old. This school has recently undergone a rebuild which saw the previous Faringdon Infant School rebrand into the modern Folly View Primary School.
Allowing the students to learn in different ways in various environments is important to the school, which is why a school canopy was required to extend the usable outdoor space.
What Was the Challenge?
As a new-build school with a modern, contemporary architectural design, the school wanted to enhance the outdoor space.
An outdoor learning and play space were chosen due to its diverse uses and ability to extend the school’s capacity. Due to the building’s look and the high level of importance placed on safety for the young pupils, a modern and safe solution was needed.
The challenge of offering a seamless extension to a building is something we at Kensington Systems are well experienced with. This is one of the reasons that the architects decided to choose one of our long-lasting solutions.
The Solution? Outdoor Play Canopies
The timeless and sleek Spaceshade Lux aluminium Canopies were the chosen solution as they matched the visual identity perfectly, thanks to the laminated glass roof and rounded posts.
Additional style features that were also selected due to their coherence with the new build were the built-in gutters and downpipes, which perfectly mimicked the building’s ones.
Offering protection from the elements, the canopies boast concealed fixings and integrated rainwater goods to improve safety for young students. The canopies have been installed in the primary and nursery playgrounds and also act as covered external walkways between classrooms.
How Has the School Canopy Helped Folly View Primary School?
Proudly surrounding the building, the brand-new canopies have provided outdoor learning spaces, play areas, and covered walkways to enhance usage year-round.
The canopies have also allowed Folly View to meet the building rules outlined by the Department for Education. The rules state that early-year’s outdoor class spaces must have an external canopy which provides at least 0.5m2 per pupil and be at least 2.4m wide. It must also be weather resistant, provide water drainage, be anti-corrosive, and offer easy maintenance.
Aside from the legalities and building regulations, the outdoor space allows the school to continue their creative learning styles in various environments year round. This improves the student experience and ensures the school retains its positive reputation in the Oxford area.
Is an Outdoor Learning Canopy Ideal for your Primary School?
Research shows the many positives associated with outdoor learning. For younger pupils, spending time outdoors provides them with new experiences, improves confidence, benefits both mental and physical health, and offers teachers the chance to share information about the outside world in a more creative way.
An outdoor canopy is a great solution as it allows you to improve the student experience while adhering to the many rules in place to maintain their safety.
To learn more, contact us today.
