School Furniture with a ‘WOW’ Factor

Quality, flexibility and a ‘wow’ factor were all criteria that led Horizon Primary school to source its new furniture from Kinnarps.

Horizon Primary School in Kent has been created from the amalgamation of Birchwood and White Oak schools and head teacher Colin Heatley was keen that the new school should have a high impact on its opening. This was to be achieved through a combination of re-decorating and new furniture.

“The furniture needed to be flexible, of high quality and have a ‘wow’ factor,” Mr Heatley explained. “We settled on Kinnarps because it gave us all three. This proved to be an excellent decision and the company worked closely with us on every aspect of the project. Not only were we able to see the furniture in the showroom, they also made samples available for viewing at the school,” he added.

From the first contact, the Kinnarps design team developed an understanding of the school’s needs and expectations, leading to an implementation plan and delivery dates. The latter were particularly important as the school had been emptied of old furniture and the new furniture had to be delivered within a demanding schedule.

“Kinnarps met all of our needs in spaces,” Colin Heatley continued. “No other manufacturer has anything like it. The furniture is high quality with all aspects of its use carefully thought through. The chairs are ergonomically designed to be comfortable and are extremely well made so they will give us a long life.

“The tables are comfortable and set at a height which makes them good for children and staff alike. The finish is excellent and the furniture would not look out of place in any office. This helps generate a feeling that the classrooms are places of work and has helped develop a sense of pride in the work produced,” he enthused.

“Since the school’s opening, the furniture has been very well received by parents, children and staff and no complaints have been received. In fact, whenever possible, we even hold our meetings in classrooms because they are the most comfortable and practical places to be,” Mr Heatley concluded.