Transforming Play at Dukesgate Academy!

The Customer

Nestled away within the vibrant town of Salford, Dukesgate Academy is a proud member of the United Learning Trust and a cherished cornerstone of local life. The school has earned a glowing reputation for putting children at the heart of everything it does, creating a welcoming and inspiring environment where every child is encouraged to shine.

Led by the ever-enthusiastic Mrs Eldridge, the Dukesgate team is packed with passionate educators who are always on the lookout for new ways to enrich their pupils’ experience. Whether it’s through their strong focus on personal development, close-knit community relationships, or innovative use of technology in the classroom, Dukesgate Academy stands out as a school that goes the extra mile to help every child flourish.

Inspired by a fantastic redesign at Brentnall, the team at Dukesgate Academy were eager to give their own Early Years outdoor provision the attention it deserved. After multiple discussions, the school envisioned a space that would capture young imaginations, support physical development, and lay strong foundations for lifelong learning.

With that vision taking shape and plenty of inspiration behind them, the school set out on a journey to completely revamp their outdoor area. It wasn’t just about new equipment; it was about creating a dynamic space where little learners could explore, discover, and grow every day.

Meeting the Customer

Lauren, Executive Business Manager of the Manchester Primary Cluster for United Learning Trust, was contacted by the Dukesgate Academy team. Being informed of their wish to improve their play space, Lauren decided that only one company could help the school create a vibrant and exciting playground.

Tom Hollingworth (one of our most creative and popular playground consultants) had worked previously with Lauren to improve the playground at Brentnall Academy. Impressed with the proposed design for Brentnall, Lauren decided to reach out to Tom directly to see if Pentagon Play could provide another fantastic redesign for the United Learning Trust.

Thrilled by the prospect, Tom instantly accepted the challenge and started working closely with the school and Lauren to help bring their dream playground to reality. Just like her experience before, Lauren found working with Tom to be a blast, with him providing an variety of exciting and unique ideas for the school.

Lauren explained how our proposed plan would be submitted to the board of directors for review and then either accepted or rejected. With the pressure mounting, Tom made sure that every aspect of the design was covered, from safe surfacing choices to exciting freestanding play equipment.

To finalise the design, Tom believed that it would be beneficial for him to visit the school and speak to Lauren and the headteacher (Mrs Eldridge) in-person. Offering a free on-site visit and consultation, Tom explained how these visits allow our consultants to provide a more bespoke service and work closer with our clients. Excited by the prospect, both Lauren and Mrs Eldridge booked a date for Tom to visit.

Their Objectives

Arriving at the playground, Lauren and Mrs Eldridge welcomed Tom and guided him to the EYFS play area. Mrs Eldridge explained that one of the school’s top priorities was to make the area much more imaginative and engaging for their little ones.

The team wanted to introduce defined play zones that would spark creativity, support social interaction, and encourage physical development. This zoning effort would give children the freedom to explore and express themselves through meaningful, child-led play.

As they continued their walk, Lauren shared the school’s exciting plans to introduce a dedicated Forest School area. She described how the team was passionate about outdoor learning and wanted a natural space where children could connect with nature, build confidence, and enjoy new sensory experiences.

Finally, the pair pointed out the worn-out surfacing that covered both the existing EYFS area and the site for the future Forest School. She explained how the current surface was no longer fit for purpose and how the staff felt it was taking away from the overall atmosphere.

A key part of the transformation would be the installation of vibrant, safe, and long-lasting surfacing, which would help to refresh both spaces and ensure that they’re as visually appealing as they are practical and safe.

Our Approach

With all the objectives agreed and ideas shared, Tom made his way back to our Middlewich HQ, ready to roll up his sleeves and get to work! He teamed up with our brilliant designers and play experts to start bringing Dukesgate Academy’s vision to life. Lauren was kept in the loop, constantly receiving friendly updates and regular progress reports so she always knew exactly what was happening and how things were shaping up.

At Pentagon Play, we know how to make your customer journey unforgettable. That’s why our talented in-house visualisation team quickly got stuck into creating bright, detailed 3D designs that showed exactly how the finished playground would look. It’s one of our favourite parts of the process, watching a school’s ideas take shape in full colour! These designs are also a great way to bring everyone else on board, from the governors to the wider school community.

While Lauren and the team were busy sharing their excitement with the stakeholders, our skilled manufacturing crew were hard at work behind the scenes. Every piece of equipment was crafted with care, using top-quality materials and going through thorough checks to make sure everything was just right.

After more than 15,000 playground projects across the UK, we still get a buzz from helping schools create something truly special! At Pentagon Play, it’s not just about building playgrounds, but it’s also about creating spaces where children feel inspired, confident, and ready to take on the world.

Playground Safety Surfacing

Once the old playground equipment and surfacing were cleared away, it was all systems go! Our fantastic installation team got straight to work laying down the new surfaces, ready to transform the space into something truly special. Before any decisions were made, Tom had spent time chatting with the staff at Dukesgate Academy, walking them through all the surfacing options and helping them find the perfect fit for their little learners.

After some great conversations, the school decided to go with two of our most-loved surfacing choices: Wetpour and Playturf Artificial Grass. It was the dream combo, with both surfaces being practical, playful, and packed with potential!

Wetpour is a wonderfully soft, springy surface that cushions falls and keeps playtime safe. It’s brilliant for areas wishing to capture the imaginations of children, especially when paired with bright, bold playground graphics that bring stories and adventures to life. It’s also super low-maintenance, smooth underfoot, and wheelchair-friendly, making it a great choice for inclusive play where every child can get involved.

For the forest school area, Dukesgate went with Playturf Artificial Grass, a firm favourite amongst schools who want a natural look without the mud and mess. It mimics real grass beautifully but stands up to daily wear and tear like a champ (it’s even passed FIFA’s durability tests!). With a 10-year guarantee and minimal upkeep, it’s a smart investment that looks great year-round.

Even though Playturf could easily hold its own as a standalone surface, both Tom and the school felt that mixing in Wetpour would bring extra colour, fun, and function to the space. By weaving in a road-style design, the surface became more than just somewhere to run and jump—it turned into a whole new world for role play and adventure.

For the forest school area, the school were keen to include some additional surfacing options to enhance the atmosphere of the area. From this, the school settled on having a bark area installed within the zone, providing a lovely natural look to the area.

Early Years Playground

Starting with the first area, the Pentagon Play team got straight to work bringing the school's dream EYFS play area to life! The Early Years playground was the biggest area of the project, so our team wanted to ensure that the entire area received the love and care that it deserved.

Modular Play Tower Kenilworth

Wanting a focal point the grab the attention of the children, the school thought it would be a great idea to incorporate one of our most interesting pieces of play equipment, the Modular Play Tower Kenilworth. With a critical fall height of 0.9m, this exciting active play tower is sure to transport children into a world of adventure.

Regardless of which entry point your little adventurers decide to tackle, they'll be challenged to overcome a variety of physical tasks, naturally improving their physical skills. Once they are inside the structure, the opportunities for play are endless. From escaping into their imaginations and engaging in role play to grabbing a book and reading in a quiet space, the Kenilworth Play Tower is as versatile as they come.

Completing the installation of this impressive structure, the staff at Dukesgate Academy were over-the-moon. Not only did they believe that the play tower would grab the children's attention, but it would also provide a great environment for children to explore, play and develop in safety.

Harter Fell Climber with Platform and Slide

The Harter Fell Climbing Frame with Platform and Slide has been designed to be full of exciting challenges that spark imagination and adventure. Inspired by the rugged beauty of the Lake District’s Harter Fell mountain, this piece of playground equipment invites children to climb, balance and explore just like real-life explorers. It brings a dynamic sense of fun to any outdoor play area.

Designed to engage groups of up to ten children at once, this climber encourages teamwork, builds confidence and supports social interaction. Whether they are helping each other up the ropes or taking turns to lead the way, children learn valuable communication skills through play.

As children navigate the frame, they strengthen key physical skills without even realising. Clambering over beams, gripping ropes and balancing on logs all help to develop coordination, core strength and both fine and gross motor abilities. It is an ideal way to support physical development in a fun, active and engaging way.

The fun doesn't stop there though! Included with this structure is a platform and slide, bringing even more play value to your play area. Watch as children climb their way to the top of the platform and then slide down to victory, further developing key physical skills whilst enhancing their experience.

With its blend of adventure, challenge and creativity, the Harter Fell Climbing Frame with Platform and Slide is a brilliant addition to any playground. It delivers all the benefits of top-quality playground equipment in a size that fits a wide range of outdoor spaces.

Trim Trail

Known for their ability to completely transform a play area into an active play paradise, Dukesgate Academy were keen to incorporate a bespoke trim trail in their EYFS play area. At Pentagon Play, we want to help you make your dream trim trail, which is why we offer a bespoke service, allowing you to select from over 50 unique sections. The possibilities are truly endless.

Talking Mrs Eldridge through all the options, Tom explained how each piece of trim trail equipment offered by Pentagon has been designed by industry experts, ensuring that it promotes physical activity and development. Impressed by the range, Mrs Eldridge decided on having the following pieces of equipment:

Having such a broad selection of equipment present in the trim trail not only helps to keep the children's attention whilst playing, but it also helps them develop different physical skills. As schools across the UK look for more effective ways to help children build a positive relationship with exercise and health, the trim trail has become even more popular.

Freestanding Playground Equipment

After plenty of fun and thoughtful chats, Mrs Eldridge and her team felt confident they’d picked just the right mix of equipment for their children. They were excited to create a space full of variety, packed with opportunities for exploration, creativity and active play, all while staying comfortably within budget. In the end, they chose a bright and inspiring line-up from our freestanding collection, including:

This collection features some of our most-loved and durable play pieces, each one carefully chosen to support a different type of learning and development. Best of all, every item is completely freestanding. That means there’s no need for digging, no installation costs, and no limits on how the space can be used.

For schools like Dukesgate that want a flexible, free-flowing outdoor space, freestanding equipment makes a world of difference. Staff can move things around to suit the day’s activities, create open space in seconds, or store things away with ease. It’s all about creating a setting that works for everyone, whether the children are building, exploring, pretending or painting.

It’s also a brilliant option for schools working with tighter budgets. Because there’s no need for groundworks or extra installation, you can stretch your funds further and invest in more of what really matters—exciting, meaningful play experiences for every child.

When the team saw the completed space, they were absolutely delighted. The mix of equipment gave them confidence that every child would find something to capture their interest. Whether they were splashing in the water wall, getting creative at the paint panel, or cooking up imaginary feasts in the mud kitchen, the outdoor space had become a vibrant, playful hub full of life, learning and joy.

Forest School Outdoor Area

Finishing the early years playground, our team quickly shifted their focus to completing the Forest School outdoor area. Compared to the early years area, the forest school zone was a lot smaller, but required a lot more work as this section was previously non-existent.

Freestanding Play Equipment

Similar to their early years play area, the staff thought it would be a great idea to have freestanding play equipment present in the area. Reviewing the large variety of play equipment offered by us, the school decided to include the following pieces in their forest school zone:

From musical play equipment to pieces of furniture for reading and literacy, Pentagon Play's freestanding range provides schools the ability to create the playground of their dreams whilst on a tight budget by saving on the cost of installations and preparations.

Schools, like Dukesgate, love our freestanding range and love how easy it is to move around and reposition to match their desired layout. Lightweight, but durable, equipment from this range is perfect for any busy school environment that is constantly adapting to it's students.

5M Hexagonal Gazebo

With all of the freestanding equipment sorted, the school were excited to have the main structure of the zone installed, the 5M Hexagonal Gazebo. Constructed from high-quality materials, this durable and long lasting gazebo is the perfect addition for any school looking to deliver outdoor lessons.

Due to it's impressive size, teachers can take up to 30 children outdoors in a sheltered environment and deliver an engaging lesson that no one is sure to forget. In addition, the shingle covered roof stops any rain or snow from entering the cover, meaning outdoor lessons are no longer limited to sunny and dry days.

Featuring 5 built-in benches and fence sides, children can sit in comfort as they find themselves immersed within their lessons. Not only would this make lessons more fun for the children, but the staff would get the benefit of having a more engaged class and better academic performances!

Once the gazebo was installed, Lauren was enamoured by the impressive sight of the new Hexagonal Gazebo and instantly knew it would be a hit with the children! Alongside this, Lauren also believed that the beautiful look of the Hexagonal Gazebo enhanced the natural environment of the zone, making it a more immersive experience for their little learners.

The Results

A few weeks after the installation, Tom got in touch with Mrs Eldridge to see if Pentagon Play could visit Dukesgate Academy and capture some photos whilst hearing first-hand how the new playground was making an impact. Mrs Eldridge was more than happy to welcome us in, so a small team of Pentagonians headed over to see the transformation for ourselves.

From the moment we arrived, Mrs Eldridge and her amazing staff team greeted us with warm smiles and open arms. They made us feel right at home, and their enthusiasm for the new play space was infectious.

As we made our way toward the playground, Mrs Eldridge shared how many parents and carers had praised the new playground. Not only were they blown away by how fantastic the area looked, but they also appreciated the wide range of play opportunities available. There really is something for everyone, with spaces that cater to all abilities and interests.

One of the biggest things the staff have noticed since the playground was completed is how much more engaged the children are during playtimes. Pupils are making full use of the new equipment, collaborating with one another and showing real imagination in the way they play. The school’s new forest school area, in particular, has become a valuable part of the daily routine. It offers a peaceful space for nature-based learning and has been fantastic for boosting confidence and wellbeing.

Stepping onto the playground, we couldn’t help but smile. The space was buzzing with energy. Some children were climbing and exploring the Kenilworth Play Tower like little adventurers, while others were busy digging and scooping in the sandpit. Because the equipment was spread throughout the area, the whole space felt open, free-flowing, and full of possibility.

When we spoke with the teaching staff, they told us how much they loved the freestanding equipment. It’s made it so easy to bring lessons outdoors and set up engaging activities that connect with their classroom topics. The ability to take learning outside, they said, has been priceless—and the benefits are already showing.

The new surfacing was another big hit. Children were zooming around on trikes, using the wetpour road to spark all kinds of imaginative role play. Staff shared how the road inspired design had become more than just a surface and how it had turned into a play feature that helps children build confidence and develop real-world understanding through fun, creative play.

All in all, the project has been a huge success. The team at Dukesgate Academy is thrilled, the children are loving every moment, and we couldn’t be happier with the outcome. We’re proud to have been part of something so special and can’t wait to see the pupils enjoying their new playground for many years to come!