Large secondary school gives break times a new dimension with all-weather dining space

The White Horse Federation – a federation of more than 30 schools in Wiltshire – approached us wanting to simultaneously upgrade the learning and dining experiences at two schools in its organisation. Working in this way enables MATs and federations to streamline project management, co-ordinate enhancement programmes and in some cases, achieve economies of scale.

At Forest & Sandridge Primary School in Melksham the federation wanted us to create a small outdoor learning shelter, while at the large Melksham Oak Community School the federation was looking to ease pressure on an already busy dining hall with the creation of a large all-weather outdoor dining space.

The wow

Oak Community School was keen that the new shelter should not only create outside dining and social space but should also accommodate a ‘grab and go’ snack pod. To allow for space for students to form an orderly queue for the busy snack pod, as well as plenty of social seating, we knew the area covered would need to be expansive.

The solution? A large 17m long x 12m wide all-weather dining canopy that runs the entire width of the dining hall entrance at the back of the school. Sitting in a relatively sheltered, but previously under-utilised courtyard area- the new dining canopy has transformed the daily student experience at the school. The previously crowded dining hall is now more relaxing to use, students have more choice of where to spend their break times and a previously unused area of the school’s grounds has been transformed into the heart of the school’s community.

Covered in our unique Opal 60 roofing that allows 60% daylight to penetrate, the new barrel vaulted dining canopy is flooded with light – allowing students to enjoy al fresco dining even on the bleakest winter days!

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