Background

Bardfield Academy in Basildon, Essex is part of the South Essex Academy Trust providing primary education for children aged 2 to 11. With an inspiring motto of “Striving to Achieve, Together we’ll Succeed”, they are a welcoming school focusing on building positive relationships between children, parents, and staff.

Academy trusts need to ensure that their investments into facilities and improvements to their schools will be long-lasting and add value, with sustainability and durability as key factors in the decision-making process.

Requirement

The fencing that separated parts of the school recreation areas was due for an upgrade as it had started to look a bit dull and weathered, with the paint on the wooden fencing starting to fade in places.

Multi-coloured metal fencing was the preferred option to provide visual stimulation, aesthetic appeal and to tie in with existing metal fencing installations.

Work undertaken

Bow Top Fencing

To keep the site split up into its original KS1 play area and much larger KS2 playground and playing field, over 100m of coloured Bow Top fencing in alternating colour combinations of red, yellow, and blue panels was installed alongside two green Bow Top gates.

The KS1 area was also divided further, with one of the gates controlling access to climbing frames, play equipment, and the garden play area.

A smaller run of the coloured fencing was also used for the Nursery’s outdoor area, which was sealed off to all other areas with access only from inside via sliding doors.

Bow Top fencing is commonly used around the perimeter of schools at a height of 1.8m. With its pale-through-rail construction and hidden connectors, it is inherently strong and durable and is excellent for demarcation.

Bow top gates

Two Bow Top gates were installed, one to provide access to the larger playing field and the other to manage access between school areas. Gates can be fitted with hinges on either side and include self-closing hinges with a magna latch for safe closing. The use of gates inside and as an outside entry point provided an easy way to manage access to specific areas for different groups of children.

In-house powder coating

Jacksons metal railings and vertical bar fencing and gates are made from hot dipped galvanised steel with the option of powder coating to an architectural grade in one of Jacksons standard colours at additional cost.

The academy opted to have the fence panels alternately powder coated in bright colours instead of one colour, with the posts coated in green to match the gates and provide a colour contrast making them stand out from the panels.

All Jacksons products are powder coated on-site at its Ashford facility, giving complete control over the process. Advantages of using architectural grade polyester powder coating include:

  • Durable finish that is resistant to abrasion

  • Coating won’t chip or crack unlike traditional paint

  • Bright and colourful finish

  • Retains its original colour throughout its lifespan

  • Extends product life to contribute to sustainability

  • Bespoke colour combination options to match with branding or existing colour schemes

25 year guarantee

The fencing and gates in this installation benefit from Jacksons' 25-year guarantee,.