Melland High School in Manchester Install an Entrance Canopy

What was the project brief?

Melland High School serves the community of central and east Manchester, and is a National Support School delivering education to pupils between 11 and 19 years. Their students have a diverse range of special educational needs. Assessed as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, it’s an exciting place to grow and learn.

It’s a busy campus, especially at pick-up and drop-off times, with parents huddling around the school gates on wet, windy days. There’s no getting away from the good old British weather, and the school frontage was quite exposed. Melland High School decided that as an investment in the school’s infrastructure, and to make the entrance much more welcoming, they’d explore options for a steel shelter frame. With this in mind, they contacted A&S Landscape to see what options might suit their needs.

What was our entrance canopy shelter solution?

The entrance at Melland High School’s grounds offers a lovely green hedge corridor that guides visitors into the main school entrance. It has a warm, welcoming and calming feel, and adding a shelter solution had to enhance, and not detract from, that. Our design team were keen to ensure that the options mooted with Melland High School absolutely added to the welcoming feel of the area. As a result, our recommended canopy cover solution was the Motiva Duo™, a fabulous choice for everything from public shelters to steel walkway designs.

The verdict from Melland High School was that they loved the curve of the Motiva Duo™, and they were keen to proceed. Following a survey and full assessment of measurements, logistics and positioning, the final canopy installation measured a total of 10000mm x 5000mm. Not only did Melland High School customise their canopy with Slate Grey steelwork and an Opal polycarbonate roof, but they also asked us to include an area of panelling to the top of the front end of the canopy. Their plan was to include signage here, and this is a fabulous way to ensure that your shelter solution becomes a truly custom canopy project.

What was the result of their entrance canopy shelter solution?

Not only have Melland High School created a place for parents and carers to shelter at the school entrance in poor weather, but they’ve also enhanced that welcoming appearance. It’s easy to see where the access to the school’s main entrance is with the addition of the canopy installation, but it also draws visitors in and clearly gives an impression of ‘welcome to our fabulous school’. With the lovely, curved roofline of the Motiva Duo™, the canopy itself looks great, and with the colour-way selected by Melland High School, it really compliments the existing entrance area.

Testimonial/client feedback

Following the installation of their entrance canopy shelter solution a representative of Melland High School told us that it was a:

“Great job. Thank you A&S Landscape.”

When a client takes time out of their busy day to let us know that they’re happy with their canopy cover and the service that we’ve provided, it really means a lot.

About the client

Melland High School is an exciting place for its pupils to learn and develop. With that fabulous assessment of being an ‘outstanding’ school, there are lots of things to commend it as a school of choice for children with special educational needs.  They have an ethos of supporting children to work hard, try their best and to be aspirational. In addition, they value the important part that parents and carers play in supporting the learning process, as well as the input made by the school’s wider networks. All in all, this creates a sense of a warm and cohesive community, without which the school couldn’t deliver the extremely high standards that it does.

Melland High School prides themselves on delivering a broad curriculum which gives its pupils both skills and knowledge to enable them to successfully thrive in the wider world. With a varied curriculum that takes pupils through to sixth form education too, there are lots of opportunities to learn. From maths, science and English as core subjects, right through to media studies, there’s something for everyone. Melland High School has even delivered the BBC Schools News report on more than one occasion!

Why invest in a canopy shelter solution?

Perhaps, like Melland High School, your school’s entrance is exposed and less than ideal for waiting parents and carers at school drop-off and pick-up times. But our canopy covers can be used for a multitude of different things. We offer a wide range of shelter solutions, so here are just a few uses for busy school campuses:

• Outdoor dining area canopies
• Covered walkways between campus buildings
• Playground canopies
• Bike shelters

So in answer to the question of why you should invest in a canopy shelter solution, the answer is, why not if you need to generate shelter on your school site!

How A&S Landscape can help you

We offer a one-stop shop to schools looking for a shelter solution for their campus. Our friendly team are on hand to answer your questions at each stage of the process. From your initial enquiry, through to booking in a design survey and on into developing a concept and final installation.  Having difficulty visualising what your final custom canopy will look like? We can even help you with that too! To benefit from our vast knowledge and experience of canopy installation on school sites, just call us or fill in our web enquiry form. Even if you’re not sure yet what a canopy cover can do to enhance your school’s campus, we’re happy to talk you through the options and guide you on what you need to consider.

Find out more about our other projects located in Manchester

Droylsden Academy Cover Multi Use Games Area

Our engineers produced a Covered MUGA canopy at Droylsden Academy Manor Road, Droylsdom, Manchester. The contract included one Covered MUGA™ duopitch straight roof canopy measuring 28000mm X 14000mm.

Fabric Sail Shade Designed for Our Lady of The Rosary RC Primary School

Our engineers built a shade sail for Our Lady Of The Rosary RC Primary School Davyhulme, Urmston, Manchester. The contract included one 8500mm X 8500mm Maxima™ tensile shade cloth fabric sail including for all stainless steel fixtures and fittings.

St Gilberts RC Primary School Add Enclosed Shelter with Shutters

We produced a straight polycarbonate roof canopy with roller shutters at St Gilberts RC Primary School Eccles , Manchester. The job involved the supply and installation of one Motiva™ monopitch straight roof canopy measuring 8000mm X 3600mm and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes which were coated in a matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.  Supply and installation of electrically operated roller shutter door(s) to front elevation and polycarbonate side panels to side elevations.

Outdoor Dining Canopy Designed for Our Lady’s RC High School

A&S built a curved roof canopy in Our Lady’s RC High School – Extension To Existing Canopy Alworth Road, Blackley, Manchester. The job involved one Motiva Mono™ monopitch curved roof canopy measuring 6000mm X 2500mm with Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes in matching Dura-coat™ colour finish. Supply and installation of a glazed panel to  the side elevation and the installation of seven existing glazed panels to the new and old canopy, replacing the old polycarbonate sheeting with new.

Crossacres Primary School Add Fabric Canopy to Playground

Our team constructed a canopy in Crossacres Primary Academy Wythenshawe, Manchester, Greater Manchester. The job involved the supply and installation of one Maxima™ shade cloth fabric sail including for all fixtures and fittings.