Case Study: Priory Common School – KS2 Climbing and Fitness Zone Installation, Milton Keynes
- Absolute Play
- Feb 28
- 3 min read
📌 Project snapshot
Sector: Education
Age range served: KS2
Key project drivers: Introduce dedicated physical challenge and fitness equipment for KS2 pupils, creating opportunities for strength, coordination and active play where previously there was no suitable provision, while delivering maximum value within a £15,000 budget.
Equipment type: Timber Climbing Equipment and Steel Gym Equipment
Surfacing: Rubber Safer Impact Grass Tiles
Budget: £15k
Project summary - Fitness Zone
Absolute Play worked with Priory Common School to introduce a new climbing and fitness zone designed specifically for KS2 pupils.
Centred around our popular Clamber Stack Mezzo and complemented by outdoor gym equipment, the scheme provides a dynamic and engaging space that encourages physical activity, strength development and social play.
The brief
The school identified a lack of suitable physical play provision for older pupils, with no dedicated equipment designed to challenge and engage this age group.
Key priorities included:
Introducing climbing and fitness equipment suitable for KS2 pupils
Encouraging physical activity and improving fitness
Providing equipment with strong durability and longevity
Delivering the project within a defined £15,000 budget
The school wanted a solution that would offer strong play value and long-term reliability.
Our solution
Our solution focused on combining climbing and fitness equipment to create a well-balanced physical play environment that supports strength, coordination and social interaction.
The Clamber Stack Mezzo provides a visually striking centrepiece, while the outdoor gym equipment introduces additional opportunities for active play and fitness.
Key equipment:
Clamber Stack Mezzo, featuring:
Traverse climbing
Scramble climbing
Overhang climbing
Integrated seating platforms
Outdoor gym equipment, including:
Double slalom skier
Horse rider
Arm and pedal bike
This combination encourages both climbing challenge and cardiovascular activity.
Design approach:
The design focused on delivering maximum physical play value within the available budget.
The Clamber Stack Mezzo was selected as the main feature due to its ability to accommodate large numbers of pupils while offering varied climbing challenges.
Outdoor gym equipment was positioned alongside the climber to provide additional physical engagement and expand the functionality of the space.
Safer impact grass tiles were installed to provide appropriate fall protection while maintaining a clean and durable surface.
Materials & surfacing
High-quality, pressure-treated timber was used for the Clamber Stack Mezzo, supplied with a 15-year guarantee.
Metal support footings were included to ensure no timber posts are in direct ground contact, extending longevity and backed by a 20-year guarantee.
Rubber safer impact grass tiles were installed to provide:
Excellent safety performance
Low maintenance requirements
Year-round usability
These materials ensure long-term performance and reliability.
Installation
The project included full installation of the climbing equipment, gym equipment and safety surfacing.
The works were completed efficiently, delivering a complete transformation of the space.
The outcome
The finished space has created a highly engaging and physically challenging environment for KS2 pupils.
Children now have access to equipment specifically designed to support strength, fitness and coordination, while also encouraging social interaction.
This project demonstrates how carefully selected equipment can deliver maximum impact even within a modest budget.
Looking to create something similar?
Creating dedicated physical play zones for older pupils can make a huge difference to engagement and activity levels.
If you're planning to improve your playground, our team would be happy to help.
Get in touch: 01482 762374
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