A Problem Shared is a Problem Solved!

Maths equations, English tests and science experiments. Problem solving is all in a day’s work at school. But when new regulations and guidelines get issued, finding the ideal solution can stump even the finest minds.

Grafham Grange School offers boys between 10-16 residential education to help them manage a variety of behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. When a directive was issued to residential schools to provide greater privacy for their students, there were a few obstacles.

One, the school is located in an old rambling country house, so the pupils were accommodated in dormitories in large rooms. Two, furniture has to be robust and able to withstand the day to day trauma of being used by growing boys and three, the old favourite –value for money!

Tricky situation, so why weren’t Grafham Grange worried? They already had Tough Furniture on board!

“We have been working with Tough Furniture for many years and the standard range of furniture they installed for the dormitories has stood the test of time. Tough understand our needs and have always found a solution for any problem we’ve thrown at them” said Alan Smith, Head of Finance and Operations at Grafham Grange School.

Tough Furniture designed Tough Screens around the beds, wardrobes and desks to create private spaces. These were high enough to offer the elusive privacy, but also low enough to allow space and light to prevent claustrophobia.

“Another quirky idea we came up with was positioning the wardrobes so when the door opened it blocked sight lines through the entrance. The building itself holds all the joys and character of an elegant old house, including uneven walls and floors, so the furniture also needed to be adapted to the idiosyncrasies of each room” said David Vesty, Managing Director of Tough Furniture.

Sounds expensive, doesn’t it?

Not according to Alan.

“It was five years ago that I fitted the first rooms with Tough Furniture and they still look great, it has proved excellent value for money”.

A problem shared with Tough Furniture is a problem solved – just don’t ask us what the square root of 900 is!