Case Study: Ripple Primary School – MUGA Installation, Barking and Dagenham

Absolute Play
Feb 28
3 min read

📌 Project snapshot

Sector: Education
Age range served: KS1 & KS2
Key project drivers: Replace the existing worn and uneven surface with a high-quality Multi Use Games Area (MUGA), improving safety, usability and allowing pupils to participate in a wide range of sports and physical activities.
Equipment type: Powder Coated Steel: 3m high mesh rebound fencing system with integrated football and basketball goal ends.
Surfacing: New skim tarmac surface with court markings and thermoplastic play features.
Budget: £70-75k

Project summary - MUGA install

This project involved the full refurbishment of the school’s existing sports area, transforming it into a high-quality Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) designed to support a wide range of sports and activities.

The installation included a new tarmac surface, full rebound fencing system, court markings and additional thermoplastic play features, creating a vibrant and highly functional sports facility.

The brief

The existing surface had become uneven and tired, limiting its usability and presenting safety concerns.

The school wanted to:

Create a safe and reliable all-weather sports surface
Introduce proper court markings for multiple sports
Install rebound fencing to contain play
Provide integrated football and basketball facilities
Improve the overall appearance and usability of the space

The aim was to create a facility that could support both PE lessons and everyday play.

Our solution

Our solution focused on delivering a complete MUGA system that would maximise durability, safety and versatility. By installing new tarmac surfacing alongside a full rebound fencing system and integrated goal ends, the space was transformed into a dedicated sports facility.

Key Features:
- New tarmac sports surface, installed across over 1,200m²
- 3m high mesh rebound fencing system, providing security and containment
- Combined football and basketball goal ends, maximising sports provision
- Court markings for football, basketball and netball, supporting multiple sports
- Additional thermoplastic play markings, including fitness trail elements

Design approach:
The design focused on creating a versatile and durable sports space that could support a wide range of activities while improving safety and usability.
The new tarmac surface was carefully installed to improve levels and drainage, creating a smooth and reliable playing surface. The rebound fencing system fully encloses the area, ensuring safe and contained play.
Additional thermoplastic markings were introduced to extend the functionality of the space beyond traditional sports, encouraging active play throughout the day.

Materials & surfacing

A new skim tarmac surface was installed to provide a robust, low-maintenance and all-weather sports surface, delivering excellent durability and reliable ball bounce performance for a wide range of activities.

The installation also included a Fast-Mesh powder-coated MUGA fencing system, finished in green. This high-strength rebound fencing provides secure containment of play while offering excellent visibility for supervision. The system incorporates integrated football and basketball goal ends, maximising the usability of the space while maintaining a clean and professional appearance.

This offers:

Excellent durability
Reliable ball bounce performance
Low maintenance requirements
Long-term performance

Additional thermoplastic court and activity markings were applied to ensure long-term durability and provide opportunities for both structured sport and general active play.

MUGA Install
MUGa Design
Multi Use games area

Installation

The project involved significant preparation works, including cutting back the existing surface, improving levels and resetting drainage where required.

New tarmac surfacing, fencing, goals and markings were then installed to create a complete sports facility.

The works were delivered efficiently, transforming the space ready for school use.

The outcome

The completed MUGA has transformed the school’s outdoor sports provision, providing a safe, modern and highly versatile facility.

Pupils can now enjoy football, basketball, netball and general active play within a dedicated and professional sports environment.

This project demonstrates how upgrading surfacing and installing a proper MUGA system can dramatically improve the usability and value of an existing sports area.