Hillview School for Girls in Kent Add Shade Sail to Seating Area

What was the project brief?

Hillview School for Girls, located in Tonbridge, Kent is a school for girls between the ages of 11 and 18. This popular school takes a contemporary approach to catering provision and has a retro-style polished chrome trailer located in the school’s grounds serving snacks to the pupils during the school day. They contacted A&S Landscape to ask for some help in devising a shelter solution to be located outside this stylish snack pod to allow the girls to eat outdoors. The specific brief they had was to design something modern and sleek to complement the pod and the surrounding area.

What was our shade sail solution?

To meet the project brief, we knew that the steel shelter frame and canopy cover both needed to fit with the on-trend design of the snack pod. We proposed using a Maxima StarSail™ from our Maxima fabric range. The StarSail, is, without doubt, a truly contemporary design. Not only does it give a fun sail effect to the canopy architecture, but it also acts as an umbrella to shelter the area underneath from rain and harmful sun rays.

Focused around a single central canopy pole, the cutting edge design is both fun, but at the same time, inordinately practical. This particular project was completed in ‘Squirrel Grey’ (RAL 7000) steelwork with a vibrant red ‘Poppy’ coloured canopy from our range of fabric choices.

What was the result of the new shade sail canopy?

The utilisation of waterproof fabric for the sail canvas has provided Hillview School for Girls with the shelter solution they wanted to enable the pupils to dine outside after they’ve collected their orders from the snack pod. Not only that, but they have created a really cheerful-feeling space with the bright triangular sail floating above this area of shelter. It’s now a great place for the girls to socialise in, whatever the weather conditions.

It’s generated a real buzz about the existing dining space, and the sail cover works especially well with the funky chrome snack trailer, bringing the whole space together perfectly.

About the client

Hillview School for Girls is located in the market town of Tonbridge in Kent. They attained academy status in 2012 and are a recognised Performing Arts College. As well as delivering secondary education to girls between the ages of 11 and 18 years, the school also has a mixed Sixth Form. The school was recognised in Tatler in 2017 as amongst the best state secondary schools in the country.

Hillview School for Girls offers a varied curriculum to its pupils. It also has some fantastic facilities including state of the art science laboratories, a sports hall, dance and drama studios and a cinema. The school is a busy campus, even operating on Saturdays during term time, when a Performing Arts School timetable operates including Drama, Musical Theatre and Dance. It even offers Toddler Ballet!

Why invest in a shade sail canopy?

The versatility of a waterproof shade sail means that it brings a range of benefits to a school, college or public attraction space. With a Maxima StarSail™ from A&S Landscape you can be sure of:

• Durable canopy architecture and timeless design
• The longest product guarantees on the market
• A design plan that is tailored to your specific space and project brief
• As well as offering a waterproof shelter solution, a Maxima StarSail™ will also act as a sun shield sail. You may be surprised by how much your new sail attracts people looking for cover on hot, sunny days.
• A customisable product with a range of design features such as bespoke colouring and the option to choose a standalone product, or a group of sails for an even more eye-catching effect.
• The option to add more matching canopies at a later date. Or maybe even choose to add another canopy with a contrasting shade colour for an even more eye-catching design.

Should eating outside at school be a privilege or necessity?

There are a variety of confirmed benefits to dining outdoors as a part of the school day. As school children spend the whole day in a classroom setting, it is critical that they are given time to breathe at lunchtime. In spending this break outdoors, it not only promotes a calming atmosphere but can also reduce levels of hyperactivity in a student. If a student is required to spend their break inside, it can echo the classroom environment and stop them from taking a healthy amount of time to relax. Eating outside is also an extremely sociable activity, unrestrained by the dining hall environment students can connect with different year groups easily.

Over on our blog you can read how schools can encourage their pupils to dine outdoors regularly – click here.

Why choose A&S Landscape for your shade sail canopy?

In addition to our market-leading guarantees, commissioning a shade sail cover from A&S Landscape gives you access to a wealth of knowledge and experience. With over 40 years in the industry, we know canopies inside out and we can offer you design input as well as technical expertise. Offering a comprehensive choice of shade sails in our range, we can also help you to decide on the perfect option for your space. The choices for installing a fabric canopy are diverse, and within our range, you are certain to find something that suits the needs of your organisation.

If you would like to know more about shade sail canopies and the feasibility of installing one at your school or college campus, contact our team today for a no-obligation chat about how we can help you.

Take a look at some of our other projects based in Kent

All Faiths Children’s Academy Add Umbrella Canopy to Playground

Our engineers erected a playground umbrella in All Faiths Children’s Academy Rochester, Kent. The contract included the supply and installation of one Maxima™ waterproof Umbrella structure supported on a single upright measuring 5000mm X 5000mm.

Fabric and Polycarbonate Shelters Made for St Thomas More Primary School

Our team constructed a straight polycarbonate roof canopy and triangle sail at St Thomas More Primary School Sheldon Road, Bexleyheath, Kent. The full contract involved the supply and installation of one Motiva™ monopitch straight roof canopy measuring 7700mm X 2250mm and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes which were coated in a matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.  One 7800mm X 11700mm X 7600mm Maxima™ tensile shade cloth fabric triangle sail including for all stainless steel fixtures and fittings.

Haberdashers Askes Knights Academy Add Straight Roof Shelter

Our engineers built a straight polycarbonate roof canopy in Haberdashers Askes Knights Academy Bromley , Kent. The full contract involved the supply and installation of one Motiva™ monopitch straight roof canopy measuring 14250mm X 4000mm and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes which were coated in a matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.  Supplied and installed including for all groundwork’s and dismantling/removal of existing canopy.

Ethelbert Road Primary School Add Shade and Shelter to Playground

Our engineers built a curved roof canopy at Ethelbert Road Primary School Ethelbert Road, Faversham, Kent. The full contract involved one Motiva Duo™ duopitch curved roof canopy measuring 8000mm X 5800mm, with Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes in matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.

Blue Fabric Umbrella Canopy Designed for Glebe School

Our team built a playground umbrella for Glebe School West Wickham, Kent. The contract included the supply and fitting of one Maxima™ waterproof Umbrella structure supported on a single upright measuring 4000mm X 4000mm.

Colliers Green School Create Outdoor Covered Area

Working with our building contractor client A&S designed a straight polycarbonate roof canopy in Colliers Green School Cranbrook, Kent. The contract included the supply and installation of one Motiva™ monopitch straight roof and coloured polycarbonate canopy measuring 9795mm x 2920mm and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes in matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.

St Joseph’s RC Primary School Add Fabric Shade Sail

In combination with a business partner we constructed a shade sail structure for St Josephs RC Primary School Crayford, Kent. The job involved one 7000mm x 7000mm Maxima™ tensile shade cloth fabric sail structure comprising of one triangle sail on a total of three uprights including for all stainless steel fixtures and fittings.