Clinton Primary School, Kenilworth, Warwickshire

Sector: PRI

Case Study: Designing a KS1 Playground with the Pupil Council at Clinton Primary School, Warwickshire.

The Brief

Clinton Primary School wanted to revitalise its KS1 playground after successfully raising funds for improvements. The school was looking to replace an ageing trim trail that had reached the end of its lifespan, while also enhancing opportunities for imaginative play for its youngest pupils.

Working closely with the school’s pupil council, we listened to the children’s ideas and aspirations to create a playground that reflected how they wanted to play both now and in the future.

The Challenge

The existing trim trail had become increasingly difficult and costly to maintain, requiring regular repair works. Its location also presented a practical issue, with a strip of exposed soil between the rubber mulch surfacing and the adjacent tarmac pathway. During wet weather, this frequently resulted in mud being carried into the school building.

Alongside improving the physical play equipment, the pupil council wanted to refresh the role play area by replacing outdated features with more engaging and contemporary play experiences.

Our Solution

After reviewing the site, we recommended relocating the new activity trail to a more accessible position directly connected to the playground. This new layout not only improved accessibility for pupils but also delivered better value for money by reducing the amount of artificial grass safety surfacing required.

Working with the pupil council, we developed a bespoke trail that incorporated the children’s preferred play elements, including:

• Spinning Log
• Balance Beams
• Traversing Wall
• Rope Traverse Zig

To maximise the school’s investment, we also designed the trail with future expansion in mind. A Phase 2 extension was incorporated into the masterplan, providing a clear route for additional equipment to be added as future fundraising became available.

The role play area was also transformed, replacing the existing equipment with a modern train and an interactive police car featuring integrated play panels to encourage imaginative and collaborative play.

The Outcome

The completed design enabled Clinton Primary School to upgrade both their physical activity and imaginative play provision within the available budget. By relocating the trim trail, the school reduced future maintenance concerns, eliminated the mud issue caused by the previous layout, and achieved better value from their investment.

Most importantly, the project reflected the ideas and priorities of the children themselves, creating a playground shaped by pupil voice while providing a phased development plan that will support future fundraising and continued investment in outdoor play.