Griffin Park Primary School, Blackburn

Client: Griffin Park Primary School in Blackburn
Installation: September 2009

February 2011
Case Study: A playground to complement a major investment

In September 2010, the remodelling of Griffin Park Primary School – a project that cost nearly £1 million – was completed, and the school decided it was a good time to have the outdoor play areas they’d also been planning – to create an external area that was just as exciting.

These areas would also fill what Head Teacher Catherine Clayton-Grady observed was a “very grey space” and “improve the opportunities for play for the children”.

Listening was key
Red Monkey were among a number of suppliers who provided a design idea for the new play areas. Miss Clayton-Grady commented on the approach of Richard, the Red Monkey Project Manager who took the brief from them: “Richard really listened to what we wanted and didn’t try to put what he thought we wanted. That was definitely the key.” What’s more, the design he proposed was different too. “It felt more unique,” said the Head Teacher.

As a result, the school appointed Red Monkey to create the play areas, which were for the Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. Miss Clayton-Grady described the subsequent service and installation as “excellent”. She also noted that they were professional throughout.

Making an impression
The Red Monkey solution includes a stage, a trim trail, a sandpit, a train, mushroom seats, a reading chair, planters, a range of surfaces and more. There’s a gazebo that’s well used as an outdoor classroom, and a bike shed with windows that can also be used as a shop, a garage or a house when the bikes aren’t in it.

Within the nursery garden, there’s a circle design with four different flooring surfaces and a shiny metal ball in the middle, creating a sensory experience. Miss Clayton-Grady said of the new nursery garden: "It’s really striking.”

The Red Monkey solution has given the school what they were looking for. “We wanted things that had lots of different uses…that could access the curriculum if we wanted to but would also excite the children,” said Miss Clayton-Grady.

Popular with the children
The Head Teacher commented that the children love it. “They like all of it. The stage goes down really well. The junior children love the seating area.”

She also said that they would definitely be happy to use Red Monkey again.  “We were delighted with the products, the design and the service.”