Located in a densely populated area, the school faced several challenges with its perimeter: privacy concerns from surrounding flats, security risks from high foot traffic nearby, and the need to maintain a welcoming, modern appearance for pupils and parents alike.


Privacy in the City: A Growing Challenge


In densely populated urban areas, fencing must do more than protect - it must shield. Privacy is essential in schools surrounded by high rise housing or busy thoroughfares. Pupils need to feel safe from external scrutiny, and teachers need to safeguard them from the potential risks of being visible to the outside world.


At the same time, high solid walls can make a school feel like a fortress, alienating the surrounding community. The ideal fencing solution balances visual screening with permeability. Systems like EuroGuard® Combi, which combines welded mesh with timber slats, offer a highly effective middle ground. These fence types obscure sight lines without completely blocking airflow or light, and blend well into both natural and urban settings.


Case Study: Chesterton Primary School, London


Chesterton Primary School in Battersea, South London, offers a powerful example of what’s possible when safety, design, and practicality align.


Cost vs Value


A common issue in school infrastructure is the tendency to treat fencing as a tick-box exercise, often bundled with wider capital works or selected purely on price. While


The school opted for EuroGuard® Combi fencing, Jacksons Fencing’s hybrid system combining a welded mesh panel with vertical timber slats. This provided the necessary privacy without the stark visual impact of a solid wall, while the robust tamper-proof fixings ensured long-term durability in a high- wear environment. The welded mesh panels eliminated weak points and the timber infills gave the fence a warmer, more community- friendly appearance.


initial savings may be tempting, the real costs emerge later: increased maintenance, risk of injury or trespass, and the reputational damage that can arise from a preventable incident.


Specifying a high-quality fencing system with tamper-proof fixings, welded construction, and appropriate environmental consideration is an investment in safety, community trust, and educational success.


Final Thoughts: Designing for Safety, Not Just Security


School fencing is far more than a passive perimeter. It is a frontline defence against harm, a visual cue to pupils, and a message to the community about how seriously a school takes safety and care. Unsecure fixings, poor design choices, or wildlife-unfriendly specifications not only present practical risks but also send the wrong message about priorities.


A thoughtful approach which emphasises welded pale-through-rail systems, tamper- proof fixtures, and humane, private designs can transform a basic boundary into an asset for learning, play, and peace of mind.


For schools like Chesterton Primary, that transformation is already underway.


For more information or to receive a school fencing evaluation or quote from Jacksons Fencing, call 0800 260 5775 or visit www.jacksons-security.co.uk


Summer 2025 issue 4180


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