After many years of the school fundraising towards the project, we were hugely excited when Ian Mikardo High School finally got the green light for their play area project!

Their previous climber was built from natural trees, and had degraded and lost it’s integrity and strength. So the first phase of the project was to clear the entire space, before excavating to install a stone base for the new safety surfacing.

The new climber took the school’s favourite elements of their previous design, namely the large steps and the high level platforms, but improved on the design by ensuring safety was a paramount consideration, as well as introducing a wider variety of climbing activities to the space.  

A free-form section provides a more challenging route up to the higher platforms, and challenges balance and co-ordination as well as grip-and-grasp. The school chose to have the ropes in black for a more modern look.

The highest platform on the unit was over 2m in height, ensuring it provided a challenge for the 12-15 year old target age range. A huge slide replaced the slide on their previous climber, which was another favourite feature.

A commentary box overlooks their sports pitch, tying into literacy lessons and encouraging their pupils’ communication skills and confidence development

Spectator benches provide room for friends to sit and socialise, also overlooking the sports pitches.

We were so thrilled to finally get to deliver this project, after 4-years in the making! Aaron Mulhern, the headteacher, left us a great review;

“Can I just say that your team have been great. They have represented the company really well and please pass on my thanks to all at Setter Play for the fantastic job”.