Case Study: Oliver Goldsmith Primary School, KS2 Playground Equipment – London

📌 Project snapshot

• Sector: Education

• Age range served: KS2

• Key project drivers: maximising usable space, improving safety and accessibility, creating a cohesive layout across multiple zones and introducing high-value physical play opportunities.

• Equipment type: Timber

• Surfacing: Bonded Rubber Mulch

• Budget: £50k

Project summary - KS2 Playground Equipment

Following the construction of a new building at Oliver Goldsmith Primary School, three areas of the KS2 playground were left in need of improvement and a clear sense of purpose. We transformed the spaces using bonded rubber mulch surfacing and new climbing equipment to create safe, accessible and engaging play zones with a cohesive flow across the site.

The brief

After the completion of a new school building, three separate areas of the KS2 playground were left looking tired and underused. The school wanted to revitalise these spaces, improve accessibility and safety, and introduce exciting new physical play opportunities while creating a consistent, connected feel across all three zones, within a limited budget due to the large surface areas that needed to be covered.

The Space before

Our solution

We installed bonded rubber mulch surfacing across all three playground areas to create a safe, accessible and visually unified finish. In the largest zone, a Clamber Stack Zio climbing unit was introduced to provide a dynamic and engaging focal point for physical play, alongside a sleeper traverse climbing wall which offers an additional challenge for pupils and also acts as a subtle visual divider between the main play space and the sloping area beyond.

• Key equipment:

  • Clamber Stack Zio climbing unit

  • 6m sleeper traverse climbing wall

• Design approach:

  KS2 Playground Equipment - The layout focused on creating a natural flow between the three play zones while clearly defining activity areas. The traverse wall was carefully positioned to form a gentle boundary between levels of the playground, helping manage movement through the space without the need for fencing or hard separation.

Materials & surfacing

Equipment materials used

• Robust timber (pressured treated pine - complete with 15 year warranty) climbing equipment suitable for daily KS2 use.

  
  

Surface type used

• Bonded rubber mulch safety surfacing.

• MOT Type 1 sub-base beneath all surfaced areas.

Why these were chosen

Bonded rubber mulch provides a soft, impact-absorbing and permeable surface that is ideal for high-use school playgrounds. It offers excellent accessibility, requires minimal maintenance and delivers a natural appearance that works well across multiple connected zones.

Installation

Works were carefully phased across the three separate areas to minimise disruption and ensure safe access around the live school environment. New MOT Type 1 sub-bases were installed and locally levelled to accommodate the climbing equipment, ensuring the Clamber Stack could be positioned accurately and safely within the finished surface levels.

The outcome

Oliver Goldsmith Primary School now benefits from a revitalised KS2 playground that feels connected, purposeful and ready for play. The three transformed zones provide pupils with safe, accessible and engaging spaces that encourage physical activity, exploration and confidence through play.

Client feedback

A Few quotes from our school council - Zakiya Dean - Deputy Headteacher

"I love the new climbing equipment as we can play a range of games like the floor is lava and who can last the longest on the equipment without falling!" child in Y6.

" I think the new equipment is nice and fun. We sometimes play tag on it and whoever falls off the beams has to do a forfeit like run around the playground. It has improved our playtime as it's not boring anymore." child in Y4.

"The new soft floor has allowed us to move our table tennis tables onto a flatter surface rather than the slope we used to play on. This means that we can now play more fairly." child in Y6.

"I like how the climbing equipment is stable and solid so there is no risk of falling." Year 6 child.

"We can also challenge ourselves on the climbing wall to see how long we can stay on it. It helps improve our climbing skills!" Year 4 child.

Looking to create something similar?

If you’re planning a new play or sports project and would like an early budget or design ideas, get in touch with our team.

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