Woodhouse Grove School, West Yorkshire

With history dating back to 1821, Woodhouse Grove School has an enrolment of over 750 students. Since then, it has evolved into an independent education centre, taking on pupils from the age of three through to graduation from sixth form. With existing netball and tennis facilities exposed to the elements, the school approached Streetspace Structures to provide them with a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA).

With up to 30% of playing and coaching time in the UK lost to poor weather conditions and low light, MUGAs are permanent structures that allow outdoor sports to continue all year round, rain or shine. They keep students dry in wetter conditions, and protect them from harmful UV rays during summer months. Lighting within the structure adds value by extending the hours of use in darker months. Crucially, schools can install them over existing playing areas with minimal disruption, allowing them to quickly benefit from these features.

At just over 2,500m² in size, the new canopy sits just east of the main school building. With new fencing and gates around the perimeter, the structure now provides shelter for spectators as well as players. This was achieved by extending the footprint of the canopy past the existing playing field, creating an additional area between the inner and outer fencing.

The new internal fencing stands at 3m, and the external panels of the structure come down to meet this height on three sides. This not only provides air flow and visibility, but also ensures that any wayward balls stay well within play. At its highest point of 10m, the roof provides much needed protection from above, keeping players dry in the rain and diffusing any direct sunlight.

To really cement the identity of this newest addition to the campus, two sides of the external panels feature printed elements. Displayed boldly are the school’s name, coat of arms and motto above the main entrance. The campus-facing panels also proudly feature the coat of arms.

Woodhouse Grove stands by the fact that the environment in which a child learns is just as important as what they learn. With an inspiring new year-round sports facility for pupils to enjoy, the school continues to unlock the very best in their students.