Maximising sport for students all year round

With winter weather limiting access to the school field for students’ exercise, play and social interaction,
Castle School identified the need for a new sporting facility. S&C Slatter’s athletics track and sprint straight construction has enabled the school to expand the curriculum and ensure year-round enjoyment of outdoor space.

Key Achievements

6 Lane 110m polymeric sprint straight construction
2 lane macadam running track construction
Quality sports track for year-round athletics
Safe outdoor space for pupils to socialise in the fresh air
Delivered in time for the new school term
Athletics facility to be opened up for community use

The Challenge

Castle School, judged Outstanding by OFSTED, caters for children aged 3-19 with a variety of complex learning difficulties. With a commitment to providing a warm, caring and supportive atmosphere, with inclusion at its heart, the school provides a wide-ranging and engaging curriculum for its students.

Health, wellbeing and fitness plays a key role in daily school life, with all classes taking part in exercise routines each morning, alongside 2 hours of dedicated PE per week and further extra-curricular activities.

“It is essential that our pupils (all of whom have learning difficulties) have access to sporting facilities at school. Sport and recreation have huge social implications for our pupils.”

Jon Hewitt, Headteacher, Castle School

With the school’s sports field becoming particularly boggy over the winter period, access to the field for students becomes extremely limited, in turn restricting the students’ activities and exercise as well as social contact.

The school identified the need for an all-weather sports facility that would be accessible to students year-round, while expanding the sporting curriculum on offer.

The Solution

With a wish to develop a curriculum that would enable all of the school’s pupils to engage in athletics activities, as well as to build a facility that could be used by the community, the school decided to construct a new athletics track facility.

The team at S&C Slatter took into consideration the needs of the school and pupils, ensuring that the facility proposed would be constructed with a surface suitable for year-round use, while fulfilling the school’s additional objectives.

S&C Slatter undertook macadam athletics track and polymeric sprint straight construction, with the 2-lane athletics track running around the perimeter of the school field.

“We felt that S&C Slatter offered the best brief as well as a competitive pricing schedule. It was very positive; the team were respectful of our situation as a special school.”

The Results

The new athletics facility was completed by S&C Slatter during the school holidays and handed over in early August 2020.

The track has already proven to be a great success, enabling pupils to partake in athletics activities well into the winter months, while developing social links with friends in an open air and safe area during breaktimes. The school has reported seeing more pupils out on the field, with outdoor PE now far easier to deliver – and less messy!

“It’s just great to watch the students heading straight for the track at break and lunch. It is very popular and we know that the students are benefitting greatly from it.”

Although being delivered during the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic, the school’s headteacher explained that the school’s key objectives have been realised:

“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic having some impact, both goals have been achieved and we look forward to utilising the track further when more restrictions are lifted”.

The school already has more plans for the track, which will be available for community hire, helping to generate additional revenue for the school. There are also plans to expand the track’s use within the curriculum and outside it, with a Bikeability program enabling pupils to safely practice cycling skills at school before heading out onto the roads.

“Feedback has been very positive from staff, pupils and parents”

We’re thrilled to see the positive impact the track has already had for pupils at Castle School. With plans to launch the track officially in when restrictions ease, we look forward to the facility becoming a wider community asset and developing the school’s athletics offering in the future.

Athletics Facility Construction by S&C Slatter

With dedicated in-house expertise from design and planning through to construction and maintenance, S&C Slatter deliver specialist sports construction at a local, regional and global performance level.

Projects range substantially in size, complexity and application but all continue to embrace and exhibit the same attention to detail and commitment to outstanding personal customer service.

Find out more about our athletics track construction and exclusive new partnership with leading athletics track manufacturer Beynon Sports.

Call 01635 34521 or email info@sandcslatter.com to talk to our experts.

Elite Level Sand Dressed Hockey Pitch at St. George's Weybridge

Sand dressed artificial turf hockey pitch

Pitch extension

Perimeter fencing

Custom maroon and blue turf colouring

Team shelters, spectator area and sports equipment

In 2018, S&C Slatter were appointed by St. George’s School Weybridge to refurbish and extend their existing sand-dressed hockey pitch.

An independent co-educational school based in Surrey, St. George’s was founded in 1869 and we were thrilled to deliver their new first-class facility in time for their 150th Anniversary celebrations.

The works comprised of the removal and disposal of the existing artificial surface and shock pad, in addition to an extension of the existing pitch to comply with International Hockey Federation (FIH) regulations.

With the existing surface removed and new pitch dimensions in place, S&C Slatter installed an SBR rubber shockpad, followed by FieldTurf Hockey Gold Elite artificial turf, in striking blue and maroon colours. Supporting both full-sized and cross-court hockey, the new facility was completed with perimeter fencing, team shelters and sports equipment.

St. George’s are known for producing top hockey players and we’re proud to support the continued development of top talent with this new facility. In 2019, St. George’s U14 Boy’s Hockey Squad were crowned National Champions, but it’s not only the pupils putting the pitch through its paces, with Old Georgian’s Hockey Club also calling the facility home since 2018.

With 5 men’s teams, 2 ladies’ teams and a junior section, the OGHC has gone from strength to strength since its founding in 1995.
Boasting a number of team GB hockey players, the men’s first team went unbeaten in their 2018/19 season, rising to the elite (tier) one division of the Men’s England Hockey League, playing in the Premier Division as one of the Top 10 hockey clubs in the UK.

We’re thrilled to see the pitch delivering to the highest levels of elite hockey, even serving as the location for OGHC’s first Premier League game in September 2019, which they won against Exeter.

We look forward to watching the continued success of St. George’s school hockey teams and Old Georgians Hockey Club in the future!

Features

Sand Dressed Artificial Turf Pitch for Hockey 5747m2

Pitch Extension

In-situ Shock Pad

FieldTurf Hockey Gold Elite Artificial Turf

Perimeter Fencing

Team Shelters, Spectator Area and Sports Equipment

For more information call 01635 34521 or email enquiries@slattersportsconstruction.com

Tennis and Netball Court Development at Charterhouse School

2x Macadam netball courts

6x Tennis court respray with acrylic two-colour coating

Perimeter fencing, floodlighting and sports equipment

S&C Slatter were thrilled to deliver netball court construction and tennis court re-colour coating at Charterhouse School.

Set within an impressive 250-acre campus in Surrey, Charterhouse was founded in 1611 and is one of the UK’s leading independent boarding and day schools. Seeking to combine academic excellence with sport at all levels, the school aims to promote participation in a wide range of sports on site.

With the school becoming fully co-educational from September 2021, the construction of the new netball courts and re-coating of existing tennis courts will support the delivery of physical education particularly for girls at the school, for whom both netball and tennis are major sports.

Implementing specialist tree protection measures on site, S&C Slatter undertook excavation and groundworks before installing lateral and perimeter carrier drains, connecting to the existing tennis court drainage of the lower plateau. A twin-layer open textured macadam base and surface courses were laid over an engineered sub-base, prior to colour coating with Netball 75 grip standards to complete the netball court construction.

We then delivered a two-colour re-spray of the existing tennis courts, comprising of an acrylic coating to Tennis 60 grip standards. Line-marking was then produced with overall provision for 9x tennis courts and 6x netball courts across the new and existing courts.

The installation of LED floodlighting, perimeter fencing and sporting equipment for netball and tennis completed the project.

Features

2x Macadam Netball Courts 1604m2 (Netball 75 Grip)

Groundworks and Drainage

6x Tennis Court Respray Acrylic Two-Colour Coating (Tennis 60 Grip)

Line-markings for Tennis and Netball

Perimeter Fencing, LED Floodlighting and Sports Equipment

Supporting Footpaths and Steps

Retaining Wall Construction and Tree Protection Measures

For more information call 01635 34521 or email enquiries@slattersportsconstruction.com

Multi use games area (MUGA) construction at Reading Blue Coat School

Sand dressed multi use games area (MUGA)

Installation of new in-situ bound shock pad systems and drainage

Perimeter fencing, floodlighting and sports equipment

S&C Slatter were proud to construct a brand new multi-use games area at Reading Blue Coat school.

Founded in 1646, Reading Blue Coat School is an independent day school in Sonning-on-Thames, Berkshire. With ‘compulsory games’ introduced in 1910, sport has remained an integral part of the life at the school, playing a ‘key role in developing every Blue Coat pupil’s potential’.

Constructed as part of a wider campus strategy, the new MUGA has improved the school’s sporting facilities on site, increasing the capacity for pupils to be more active regardless of weather conditions, enhancing pupil health and welfare.

S&C Slatter undertook on-site excavation and groundworks before implementing pitch drainage and a dynamic stone and macadam base. An in-situ rubber bound shock pad was installed for maximum safety followed by FieldTurf Hockey Gold SD artificial turf, identified as the optimum surface for the variety of sports to be played on the MUGA. The installation of floodlighting, perimeter fencing and sporting equipment for football, netball, basketball and tennis completed the project – which was handed over on 18th October 2018.

Features

Sand Dressed Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) 814m2

Groundworks and Drainage

FieldTurf Artificial Turf

Line-markings for Football, Tennis and Netball

Perimeter Fencing, Floodlighting and Sports Equipment

For more information call 01635 34521 or email enquiries@slattersportsconstruction.com

Celebrating 100 years of Brambletye with an artificial turf pitch

Artificial turf pitch for hockey and football

Terraced viewing area for spectators with access footpath

Perimeter fence system and floodlighting infrastructure

Brambletye is a co-educational boarding and day school for children aged 2 1/2 – 13, based in Sussex.

Sport is an important part of student life at Brambletye, who believe providing the opportunity for every pupil to take part is essential for both social and physical development. Children take part in an hour of games each day in addition to their curriculum PE lessons, as well as a host of extra activities.

In Brambletye’s centenary year, S&C Slatter were selected to provide the design and construction of a brand new artificial turf pitch, complete with fencing, floodlighting infrastructure and a terraced viewing area for spectators. We were proud to deliver the project from concept to completion, utilising our dedicated in house teams.

With a tight geographical footprint, located in an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) amongst ancient woodlands, our dedicated design team assisted in producing a pitch design that met the challenging site conditions with bespoke ecology solutions – all whilst ensuring that Brambletye’s needs and requirements for the sports and standards they wished to play would be met.

As part of our design and build solution, our team provided informal support to the project planning process, supporting the project manager prior to planning consent being received in August 2017.

With extremely challenging weather during the construction process, in addition to a wet site, our construction teams commenced civil engineering work with the construction of retaining walls, as well as undertaking additional work to stabilise the ground prior to pitch construction.

Despite the challenges of the site location for design and planning, as well as the on-site challenges raised by poor weather, Brambletye’s ‘long-dreamt-of-game-changer’ pitch was delivered on time and to budget by the S&C Slatter team.

With hockey and football both major sports in the curriculum, the artificial turf pitch provides a safe, high quality playing surface that can be utilised by the school, its staff and pupils year-round for a number of sports.

Putting this to the test from the very beginning, Brambletye officially opened their new pitch in a ceremony for parents, alumni and donors on 17th March 2018 – with students displaying their hockey, football and rugby skills – playing happily and safely despite the snow!

Facility

Artificial Grass Pitch with FieldTurf Hockey Gold Pro Artificial Turf 5074m2

Terraced viewing area for spectators with access footpath

3m perimeter fence system and 1.2m spectator fence

Floodlighting infrastructure

Staff and pupils alike are thrilled with our new artificial turf pitch which was an important element of our centenary celebrations. We selected S&C Slatter following a competitive tender process in which they demonstrated their capabilities and provided excellent references. These were borne out as the team utilised their experience to help secure planning permission and build the pitch despite difficult weather and challenging ground conditions.

Nick Hollamby - Bursar, Brambletye School

Or view virtual brochure online

For more information call 01635 34521 or email enquiries@slattersportsconstruction.com

How Holy Cross Preparatory School are helping children thrive through sport

One flood-lit artificial turf hockey pitch

One artificial grass pitch

Perimeter fencing and floodlighting systems

Sports Pavilion

Cross-country run around the facilities boundary

In June 2019 S&C Slatter completed the construction of a £1.3million sports facilities investment project at Holy Cross Preparatory School.

Utilising free space for sports facilities and disabled access

The facility brings a large under-utilised area, estimated at one-third of the school footprint, into everyday use,“the building and the pitches represent a quality addition to the facilities at Holy Cross Prep School.”

Significant design and groundworks were undertaken to improve the drainage of the site providing a stabilisation platform and drainage carpet under the new surfaces. Another notable feature of the project was seizing the opportunity to improve disability access from the main school hall to the new sports facilities with a new disability compliant path.

Benefitting both students and the wider community

The School has a ‘sport for all with excellence’ policy. Core curriculum sports include hockey, netball, cricket, athletics, dance, gymnastics and cross-country.

“Sporting activities are now truly extended with numerous opportunities before, during and after school as well as at break time and lunchtime. Participation rates are high and pupils are very involved in sport in the local and wider community.”

The school, with its exceptional sporting facilities for a prep school in the area now hosts numerous fixtures across the sporting calendar and actively participates in both prep and maintained-sector events. All girls in years 3 to 6 have the opportunity to represent their school in a sports team.

Holy Cross Preparatory’s school partnership seeks to widen access to their education resources, by bringing independent and state school communities together in a mutually beneficial way. Since Sept 2016, the school has had an official partnership with two local state schools.

Facility

One flood-lit artificial turf hockey pitch

One artificial grass pitch recreational area

4x retractable floodlights with 2m-8m height range

Sports Pavilion consisting of a WC provision; small kitchenette; internal storage; main area of approximately 84m2; and a veranda / viewing platform

Cross-country run around the facilities boundary

The partnership proved to be a successful venture from the design stage to completion, S&C Slatter were extremely accommodating to the changing and increasing design of the facilities.

Russell Hanna – Bursar, Holy Cross Preparatory School

Or view virtual brochure online

For more information call 01635 34521 or email enquiries@slattersportsconstruction.com

Utilising an old site compound to bring new sports into the curriculum

After completing building work on new classrooms, Emanuel school spotted an opportunity to utilise the space left behind by a former site compound. Instructing S&C Slatter to construct a new multi-use games area (MUGA), Emanuel School were able to introduce new sports to the curriculum, whilst improving access to sport for staff, local schools and the wider community.

“This facility is pound for pound one of our best investments…everybody loves it”

Jeremy Sharp, Director of Strategy and Finance, Emanuel School

Key Achievements

Multi-use games area with surface suitable for various sports as well as playtime use
School are able to play hockey on site rather than hire pitches off-site
Introduction of football into the curriculum in Spring Term 2020
Pitch used as part of community outreach for local primary schools and disabled football
New pitch is the ‘number 1 choice’ at playtime for all year groups

The Challenge

Emanuel School, founded in 1594, is an Independent School in London and is one of five schools administered by the United Westminster Schools’ Foundation. With a commitment to pupils that are happy, confident and kind, sport is an important part of the culture at Emanuel, with each pupil taking part in at least one 70 minute games session per week.

Nestled into 12 acres of London’s Battersea, the school is space constrained and always looking to increase facilities for sports and recreation for pupils and staff alike. Having recently completed construction of a three-storey classroom block, opportunity was spotted in the space that had been used as the site compound. It was quickly identified as a location to introduce a new sporting facility to bring new sports on site and increase space for recreation.

Hockey is one of the core sports offered for girls at the school, but with no hockey facilities available on-site, the school had to hire facilities in Barnes and Surbiton to allow students to play hockey in the spring term. Ensuring that their new sports facility would allow hockey to be played on-site was an important motivator, as was the ability for other core sports such as Netball to be played on the surface – in addition to it being suitable for lunchtime play.

The Solution

It was clear that the best way to utilise the space was to construct a multi-use games area, or MUGA, to enable various sports to be played on the surface as well as provide the durability for frequent playtime use.

“It has become a massively popular and highly used facility”

Jeremy Sharp, Director of Strategy and Finance, Emanuel School

The team at S&C Slatter discussed the best surface options for the school, to ensure that it would enable the school to offer hockey on-site, as well as provide an additional location for their core autumn-term sport for girls, netball.

As part of the United Westminster Schools’ Foundation, Emanuel School were aware of S&C Slatter, who had constructed sports facilities at other schools for the foundation, “my colleagues at one of the other schools in Reading had very good experiences“. as well as for sports clubs in the local area “they had a really good profile from Sutton United Football Club.”

“[S&C Slatter] are a clear brand leader…They were very good throughout the process, they helped us with the planning application, they delivered, their execution was good, very conscious of health and safety, of timing requirements out of term – really good experience.”

Jeremy Sharp

The Results

Hockey is now able to be played on-site as a core sport during the spring term, with the MUGA also serving as an additional court for netball, a core sport in the autumn term. In the boy’s sporting curriculum, Emanuel have now been able to introduce 5-a-side football into the curriculum from spring term 2020 as a core sport, with the MUGA also utilised for tennis in the summer months.

When it comes to lunchtime play, the MUGA is the ‘number one choice of playground for all year groups’ and as such a rota has been introduced to ensure that every year group gets the opportunity to use it.

It’s not just pupils at Emanuel who have benefitted either. It’s boosted staff moral in the form of 5-a-side football, with staff playing on Tuesdays and Fridays, even taking on other schools! With a commitment to community outreach, the school has also been able to open up the pitch to the wider community. Primary schools have access to the pitch on Friday afternoons as part of the schools Primary Ambitions program, with disabled football for the local community also taking place weekly.

We’re proud to see the impact of Emanuel School’s new multi-use games area (MUGA) on the availability of sport and recreation on site, “meeting not just the needs of the school but the local community”.

Contact us to learn more

Call 01635 345 21 or email enquiries@slattersportsconstruction.com

Case Study: Cheltenham College

Sand-dressed Artificial Turf Pitches for Hockey

Tarmacadam Multi-use Games Area

Artificial Turf Cricket Practice Lanes

S&C Slatter was engaged by Cheltenham College to deliver a major refurbishment of their outdoor sports facilities featuring the re-surfacing of two full-size artificial turf hockey pitches and a 58m x 34m multi-use games area principally used for tennis and netball. A new full-length junior twin lane cricket practice area was also provided with artificial turf playing systems.

The two existing hockey pitches were refurbished and upgraded with new 18mm sand-dressed artificial turf which in conjunction with in-situ bound rubber shock pads, produce exceptional ball performance and player comfort. For the ‘Cotswold’ pitch, a two tone colour layout of green and blue was selected with the College crest inset into the artificial turf.

With the multi-use games area, a new sports grade tarmacadam top layer was laid over the existing surface and coated with a two tone green colour textured acrylic resin to complete the resurfacing.

Facility

Sand-dressed Artificial Turf Pitches for Hockey. 6163m2 and 5941m2.

Tarmacadam Multi-use Games Area. 1972m2.

Twin Lane Junior Artificial Turf Cricket Practice Facility. 132m2.

Uplift, removal and disposal of existing surfaces and shock pads.

Preparation and refurbishment of sub-bases prior to re-surfacing.

Provision and installation of pitch sports equipment and perimeter fencing systems.

Upgrade of floodlights to 350lux on one hockey pitch.

S & C Slatter certainly delivered what we wanted; working closely together we were able to create two high performance hockey pitches. At each stage of the process my wishes were taken on-board and I found it reassuring how I could at any time have a conversation with one of the team to discuss any part of the project. We now have at Cheltenham two outstanding surfaces that meet the requirements of our hockey programme.

Gwyn Williams, Head of Hockey, Cheltenham College

Or view virtual brochure online

For more information call 01635 34521 or email enquiries@slattersportsconstruction.com