What was the project brief?
Blessed John Henry Newman RC College – a Roman Catholic secondary school in Chadderton, Oldham – were struggling to find space for students at lunchtimes, due to their increasing numbers. They wanted to provide a new, covered area for them to enjoy, whatever the weather. And not only were they looking for a reliable, functional solution, but they wanted something striking that would add to the atmosphere of their institution.

This is where A&S Landscape stepped in, recommended to the college by other School Business Managers in the North West.

What was the dining area canopy solution?
After carefully considering their needs and discussing various products with the school, it was decided that the Motiva Duo™ was the answer. This large canopy is ideal for outdoor dining areas, with a stunning curved roof that can act as an ideal door canopy, or even a sun shade for the fleeting British summers. The shelter installed at the college measured 18000mm X 7000mm, providing students with plenty of space to enjoy their well-deserved breaks in the fresh air. The sleek, modern Slate Grey steelwork met their desire for an appealing aesthetic, while the Opal polycarbonate roof is guaranteed to protect staff and students alike from the elements – including rain and harmful UV rays. It now sits right next to the door of the adjacent building, so it’s easily accessible.

What Are The Benefits of Alfresco Dining For Children and How This Impacts Their Welfare
There is a lot of research that points out the advantages of spending time in the fresh air; alleviating heart rate, blood pressure, stress hormones and muscle tension. It can even uplift your mood. enhancements in attention, memory and concentration have also been illustrated.

How does this effect children in school? Well, being indoors for the majority of the day is linked to increased anxiety and depression. Couple this with the attract of computer games and social media at home and you can see how crucial it is to offer children as many opportunities to be outdoors during the school day as possible.

Spending time outdoors raises Vitamin D levels (an important hormone that helps to protect against a selection of diseases such as osteoporosis, depression, heart attacks and stroke). It is shown in research that many of us do not get an adequate amount of this important vitamin, so more time outside is critical to help tackle this deficiency.

With the longest break in the school day being the lunch break, a good solution is alfresco dining. More and more schools are improving their outdoor areas, setting up outdoor dining spaces, with canopies, shade sails, umbrellas and even enclosed outdoor dining rooms. With growing pupil numbers, this is a solution to the increased pressure that existing dining rooms come under as schools grow.

Continue reading the article to discover how schools can resolve this issue and allow their pupils to spend more time outdoors.

What was the result of their new canopy?
The new dining area canopy really added something refreshing and striking to the college’s outdoor space. Students have a more varied choice of where to sit at lunchtimes, and now everyone can enjoy having a little more elbow room in the other dining facilities! Whether they’re catching up with friends or cramming in some last-minute studying, being able to spend more time outside will benefit the students’ wellbeing. The staff could even use the area as a learning environment to get them out of the classroom, helping to boost motivation and engagement. It’s safe to say that Blessed John Henry Newman RC College loves their shelter and will make great use of it for years to come.

About the client
Blessed John Henry Newman RC College is a Catholic secondary school that strives for ‘dignity and excellence’ – in fact, this is their college motto. On their website, they establish their passion for their wonderful community and their pride in their faith-related values. They always keep their patron John Henry Newman in mind, who was an evangelical Oxford academic and priest in the Church of England. A&S Landscape loved working with a school whose values are so integrated into their work of educating the next generation, and it was a joy to provide them with a shelter solution to make their students’ school lives even more enjoyable.

The college serves Oldham and the surrounding areas, and the town is known for its importance in textile manufacturing – particularly during the Industrial Revolution. However, the Oldham of today boasts many attractions related to culture and history, including the Gallery Oldham, the Saddleworth Museum and the Oldham Coliseum Theatre. This makes it a fantastic area for students of local schools to grow up in.

Improving young peoples’ mental health has become a much more frequently discussed topic in recent years, and there has long been a link between mental health and spending time outside. Hours in indoor classrooms without a change of scenery or fresh air can have a negative effect on wellbeing, but being able to enjoy break times and lunchtimes outside can alleviate this.

No matter their age, having a safe, relaxing area in which to socialise with friends and classmates is essential for students. It relieves the pressures of exams and studying, and has a positive effect on productivity and motivation. Spending more time outside can also help to regulate sleep and avoid teenagers having a mid-afternoon slump. This is because natural light suppresses melatonin production, so it’s easier to go to sleep at night and sleep better. Having the right amount of sleep and avoiding feeling tired during the day is known to improve mental health. Also, exposure to natural light stimulates Vitamin D and serotonin production, which has been associated with a decrease in anxiety and depression.

Outdoor shelters provide the perfect space for students at secondary schools to socialise and eat lunch alfresco, and improve their mental health to bring more positivity and focus to their school lives.

Why choose A&S Landscape?
After over 40 years of trading and through three generations of family ownership, they pride themselves on their values and how they demonstrate them through their excellent service. They work solely for their clients, as they are independent and not owned by a group or parent company, and they earn trust by building honest relationships through hard work and delivery on their promises. You can be confident that when you approach A&S Landscape – whether you need a colourful canopy for a primary school, a sheltered drop off point for a healthcare site, or a covered outdoor space for a commercial building – you will find fantastic expertise, value for money and uncomplicated business.

Contact them today to discuss your canopy cover needs, and the friendly team will be more than happy to help. Simply call on 01743 444100 or email sales@aandslandscape.com.