Carew Academy – Three Canopies Case Study
Products: Coniston Freestanding Canopies, Grange Junior Freestanding Canopy, Grasmere Timber Clad Bin Shelter
Sizes: Area A = 17.52m x 2.5m & 24.4m x 4m with hip, Area B = 11.3m x 4.3m, 9.070m x 5.3m & 10m x 5.325m, 18.2 m x 2.458 m, 7m x 4m
Frame Finish: Anthracite Grey (RAL 7016)
Roof Panels: 35mm Opal Polycarbonate
Installation Date: September 2024
Brief
Carew Academy is relocating to a new purpose-designed school at Sheen Way Playing Fields in Wallington, following 12 years as Carew Academy and a further 63 years as Carew Manor School. The new facility is being delivered in partnership with Kier Construction and has been carefully designed to enhance the overall learning environment. As part of the scheme, canopies were incorporated as a key feature to ensure students and staff can access outdoor areas throughout the year, providing protection from the weather while reinforcing the school’s commitment to the benefits of outdoor learning.
Carew is a Special Educational Needs (SEN) school for 246 pupils aged 7 to 18, including a sixth form, and is part of the Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust. The Trust supports learners with a wide range of additional needs, including autism, speech and language difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and complex physical disabilities. Committed to enhancing opportunities for pupils with SEND, the Trust provides specialist programmes for students aged 16+ across London, Surrey and the South. We have previously supplied and installed the Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy with Side and Front Fills for this academy trust, like Dysart School in 2021, which is also a part of this trust, reflecting a shared focus on delivering a personalised curriculum, life-skills development, therapeutic support and wider enrichment opportunities delivered in collaboration with Kier’s Eastern division.
Kier Construction invited a tender submission for a bespoke canopy package based on an initial proposal. A formal response was provided, including example imagery and cost estimates for both a classroom canopy and a main entrance canopy, along with detailed inclusions, specifications and an indicative programme
Kier confirmed their intention to proceed with two canopies and anticipated signing contracts at the end of November, with works expected to commence in the new year. Updated drawings were subsequently requested in January 2024.
Proposal:
Working alongside Kier Construction, Able Canopies were appointed to deliver a comprehensive range of external solutions for Carew Academy designed to enhance outdoor usability, organisation and overall site functionality. The proposal included multiple Coniston Freestanding Canopies, strategically configured in back-to-back and L-shaped layouts to provide extensive coverage across entrances, circulation routes and outdoor learning areas, ensuring seamless integration with the building while maintaining clear access to windows and doorways. In addition, a Grange Junior Freestanding Canopy was introduced to create a dedicated, cost-effective sheltered space for classroom activities, supporting year-round outdoor learning and pupil engagement.
To complement the canopy installations, a Grasmere Timber Clad Bin Shelter was also specified, offering a secure, durable and visually cohesive waste management solution. Together, these installations form a unified approach that maximises space, improves site organisation and delivers robust, low-maintenance structures tailored to the needs of a modern educational environment.
Solution:
In April 2024, the order for Phases 1 and 2 of the projects was officially confirmed. Shortly afterwards, in June 2024, a further request was received for a bespoke bin shelter, with the Grasmere Timber Clad Bin Shelter option selected. The installation of the Timber Grasmere Shelter was completed in November as Phase 3. Both Coniston Canopies and the Grange Junior Freestanding Canopy were installed in September 2024, complying with all the order of the works currently going on.
Carew Academy marked a significant milestone on Friday, 25 April 2025, as it officially welcomed students into its new purpose-built school for the first time. Designed with students’ needs at the forefront, the building provides a nurturing and aspirational environment that supports both wellbeing and achievement. As the Principal, Mr Kearns reflected, the new space has been carefully created to enable students to thrive, and the school looks forward to seeing them grow and succeed within this thoughtfully designed setting.
The new facilities include a range of specialist and enrichment spaces that enhance the overall learning experience. ‘Carew Brew’, a student-led café located beside reception, offers pupils the opportunity to prepare barista-style drinks for staff and visitors while developing valuable work and life skills and will also host the school’s breakfast club. Additional highlights include a dedicated drama and dance studio, a sensory outdoor learning garden, a Skills for Life studio flat designed to build independence, a welcoming library, indoor and outdoor sports courts, and large, light-filled classrooms finished with homely touches such as soft seating pads to ensure comfort and create a warm, supportive atmosphere.
If you have any existing or up-coming projects,
call us on 0800 389 9072 or email: sales@ablecanopies.co.uk
