Seating for 240 in 8 minutes: Wall Pocket dining at Ashmead Combined School

Their Requirements

Ashmead Combined School in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, uses its main hall as a dining room, PE space, assembly hall and after-school venue. Like many primary schools running that model, the leadership team wanted a dining setup that would reclaim more time in the hall for other activities across the school day.

With around 240 pupils to seat during service, Ashmead needed a solution that could deploy quickly and store cleanly. Every minute the hall was not tied up in setting up furniture was a minute available for teaching, PE, drama and after-school activity.

The scope was to install the Versa Wall Pocket system across the hall, replacing the existing dining furniture.

The Solution

Our team installed six double Wall Pocket units across the hall. Each pocket stores a set of folding tables and benches flush against the wall when not in use. When the hall needs to be set up for lunch, the tables and benches unfold outwards from the pocket in minutes.

Six double units seat around 240 pupils, matching Ashmead’s roll comfortably. From the wall-stored position to a full hall ready for lunch takes around eight minutes.

Because the tables and benches unfold independently, the hall can be laid out flexibly. For lunchtimes, both come out together. For assemblies or exams, just the benches unfold.

The Result

Ashmead can now set up seating for 240 pupils in around eight minutes, and pack the hall away again in a similar window. Fewer staff are needed for the lunchtime turnaround, giving the school a daily saving on dining logistics.

The hall is now available for other activities across a much bigger portion of the school day. Sports lessons, assemblies, lectures and after-school clubs all use the space without a bank of dining furniture in the way.