Community partnership delivers safer school grounds

An unfit-for-purpose school fence, a generous contractor and a strong local partnership have come together to create a safer space for pupils and residents at Ringway Primary School. 

The school’s old fence had seen better days. It wasn’t appropriate for its use, and it made things unsafe for the children playing behind it. So, we stepped in. 

Bringing in one of our contractors, A&K Building Services, we got things moving quickly. In a brilliant show of community spirit, A&K offered to carry out the work completely free of charge – a fantastic example of social value in action and what partnership working really looks like in Wythenshawe. 

Before any work started, the team carried out a full survey of the site. They worked closely with the school to understand exactly what was needed and to make sure the new fencing would keep children safe and give everyone peace of mind. 

Then it was all hands on deck. 

The old fencing was carefully removed and brand-new panels installed. Every detail was checked to make sure the finished result was strong, secure and built to last. The result is a fence that’s safe, secure and looking brilliant. 

Now, pupils and staff can enjoy a more welcoming outdoor space, and families can feel reassured that the school grounds are properly protected. 

Sam Buckley, Business Manager at Ringway Primary School, said: “This fencing project has provided our Special Educational Needs (SEND) children with a safe, secure outdoor play area where they can build confidence, explore freely and engage in play without anxiety.  

“Clear boundaries will help children feel calmer and more settled, enabling them to enjoy outdoor activities, develop independence and access play opportunities in a way that meets their individual needs.  

“It will significantly strengthen safeguarding by preventing unauthorised exit and enabling effective staff supervision at all times.” 

A huge thanks goes to A&K Building Services for their generosity and commitment to our community.  

Jamie Pagett, Finance and Operations Manager, shared: “Social value is of great importance to any business working in a local community. If our local community thrives, it allows us as a business to continue with a sense of purpose. 

“Ringway Primary School was a prime example of this as we created a safe environment for the children to play and learn. This project in particular was close to the hearts of our employees, as living in the local area, a lot of their own children attended this school.” 

We’re also proud of our Procurement team, who worked behind the scenes to make this happen and strengthen the partnership that delivered such a positive outcome. 

Sammy Power, Head of Procurement, added: “This is a great example of social value being used in the right way. By matching support directly to a real need at Ringway Primary, A&K Building have helped create a safe outdoor space where SEND children can explore and enjoy being outside, while staff can supervise easily. It shows the impact we can have when social value from our contracts is used thoughtfully to support the communities who need it most.” 

This is what it means to have a business head and a social heart – working together to support safer, stronger communities.