International School Manila

Play Priorities

The International School Manila is diverse and dynamic, with a truly international mix of staff and students. It aims to foster the global citizens of the future, with the highest aspirations for their education and future lives. When it came to redesigning the Middle School playground, the school had clear preferences: working within a set budget and with a company that manufactured and supplied incredibly durable products. The equipment needed to withstand hundreds of energetic students every day, as well as Manila’s challenging tropical climate. It also had to fit within an existing site and work around trees, paths and seating areas. Most importantly, the school’s leaders wanted the new playground to target specific developmental needs of 3–10 year olds – with the perfect balance of exciting adventures and student safety.

Fun Solution

Fittingly, the school put its proactive student body at the centre of the process. Eight-five students joined a group to help develop the new playground and a survey of the entire school inspired hundreds of ideas. The result was fantastic new equipment for the Middle School: a set of four square ‘in-ground’ trampolines, a super-fun carousel that students can control (for slow or speedy) and the piece de resistance: a “magic flyer” that combines climbing and spinning for hours of shared thrills.

During the process, the Elementary School also snared some new equipment: a double climbing frame with linking tunnel, plus a trendy, in-ground trampoline circle.

Already proving a hit with students and staff alike, the new equipment doubles as a development tool – targeting agility, balance, coordination, motor skills, imaginative and creative play, and social development.

The launch of the new playground caused excitement overload – and that was just the staff! Check out the video to see for yourself.