Stokesley and Northallerton Schools, North Yorkshire

Formed in 2015, the Areté Learning Trust was named after the Ancient Greek concept that, in its most basic sense, translates to the pursuit of excellence. With Stokesley School & Sixth Form College considered the founding member, the multi-academy trust comprises 3 further academies in its organisation, with Stokesley joined by Northallerton, Richmond, and Miller Primary School. The development of the trust is representative of the UK Government’s ambition for all schools to be part of multi-academy trusts by 2030.

Stokesley School was formed in 1959 in North Yorkshire, converting to academy status in April 2015 where it subsequently formed the Areté Learning Trust. Northallerton School & Sixth Form College joined 4 years later and was recently part of a complex redevelopment project, relocating the school from the previous site on Grammar School Lane to a newly refurbished split-school site on Brompton Road, providing enhanced teaching and learning facilities, alongside a new sixth-form centre. Both Stokesley and Northallerton schools provide co-educational facilities for an age range of 11-18 and are situated close to the North York Moors National Park, one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the UK.

With rising student numbers on both sites, there was a need to establish additional covered dining and breakout space to accommodate the students comfortably and in an orderly fashion. Rising student numbers are a consideration across many schools in the United Kingdom, necessitating measures such as multiple lunch sittings which can then lead to additional staff costs for monitoring pupils, as well as potential disruption to the curriculum. 

York-based Project Managers Gate & Bar Ltd, having recently provided support in the relocation of Northallerton School, continued their successful work with the Arete Learning Trust to find a cost effective solution that would help alleviate congestion, assist pupil supervision during lunch periods, and expand dining space. 

Utilising the flexible design profile of the TRITON Maxx Steel Frame Canopy, Streetspace designed, manufactured and installed 3no. canopy structures across the Stokesley and Northallerton school sites. The TRITON Maxx canopy is a recognised favourite for establishing covered outdoor dining spaces, with a design that is equally understated and able to coordinate well with its surrounding landscape. The exceptionally durable steel frame is combined with an advanced multiwall polycarbonate roof cladding, providing a bright atmosphere in the large space underneath the canopy that negates sunlight glare while providing protection from UV exposure. 

To establish the outdoor dining spaces, seating from the City3 Street Furniture series was specified, with 47no. units being provided in total. The fixed, self-weighted table & bench combination is ideal for these high-use outdoor dining spaces, with a durable build that ensures long-term quality.

While the outdoor seating at the Northallerton school site was designed to correspond with the blue polyester powder coating of the encompassing canopy, a more distinctive approach was taken for Stokesley School. Contrasting the more traditional, muted grey coating of the canopy’s steel frame, 5 individual colours were chosen for the powder coated steel frames of the tables and bench units, creating a multi-coloured aesthetic that gives the outdoor dining space a vibrant colour scheme throughout. With a view of the North York Moors National Park in the distance, the completed installation provides an engaging environment that pupils can enjoy on a year-round basis.