Project Overview
Client: Trafalgar School, Portsmouth (part of the Salterns Academy Trust)
Local Authority: Portsmouth City Council
Sector: Education
Area Refurbished: Approx. 700 m²
Surface System: VubaMac base with resin bound finish in Idaho by Vuba
Completed: Summer 2025
A tired courtyard, reimagined
When Trafalgar School got in touch, their central courtyard was underused and uneven — a patchwork of soil, shrubs and dated surfaces that didn’t reflect the energy of the students using it every day.
Our brief was clear: create a space that felt welcoming, durable and low-maintenance, while keeping to a tight summer half-term schedule and working around some tricky site restrictions.
Working around the challenges
Because the courtyard sits right at the heart of the school, every bit of material had to pass through standard-height doorways. That meant bringing in compact diggers and dumpers and some creative logistics from our site team.
Across the first phase, we carefully excavated and removed over 180 tonnes of soil, rubble and shrubs – all moved through the school in controlled stages. Once cleared, we imported 200 tonnes of Type 3 aggregate, compacted in layers to create a stable, permeable base.
To keep the project on schedule, the courtyard was completed in two distinct sections. During the summer holiday, we tackled the largest area – shaping a bean-style section to be reseeded with grass and installing EverEdge along the building to form neat new flower beds.
The school also commissioned a new canopy structure mid-project, so our team working with external groundworks contractors to install the necessary concrete footings, ensuring everything aligned seamlessly with the final surfacing plan.
A return visit — and a stunning finish
Once the canopy was in place, our team returned over a September weekend to complete the remaining section. Across both phases, we laid over 500 m² of VubaMac base before applying a resin bound finish in the colour Idaho by Vuba – a warm, natural tone that complements the surrounding buildings and new green areas beautifully.
The finished surface is fully permeable and SuDS compliant, allowing rainwater to naturally drain through the system rather than running off. That makes it both environmentally responsible and perfectly suited to school settings where safety and sustainability are key.
The result? A smooth, durable courtyard that looks fantastic and performs just as well – ready to handle years of daily foot traffic with minimal maintenance.
The result — and the reaction
Trafalgar School now has a central courtyard that students actually use – somewhere to gather, walk through or simply enjoy. The design blends hard and soft landscaping to create a balanced, modern outdoor space. The new surface is
Steve, the site manager, kindly left this review after completion:
“I want to thank Russell, and all the staff I met from Cherry Home Improvements – they were ultra professional and their work was exceptional. Everyone at Trafalgar School, Portsmouth are absolutely delighted with the work carried out in the Quad. Thank you so much, you have totally transformed a piece of barely used ground into the focal point of our School!”
We couldn’t ask for a better outcome — or kinder words.
Key takeaways
✅ 700 m² school courtyard transformed
✅ 180 tonnes of spoil removed and recycled
✅ 200 tonnes of Type 3 aggregate installed
✅ Footings integrated for new canopy
✅ Resin bound finish in Idaho by Vuba
✅ Completed over school holiday and weekend to minimise disruption
In partnership with
This project was delivered in collaboration with Trafalgar School (part of Salterns Academy Trust), under the Portsmouth City Council local authority, with works carried out in accordance with Department for Education guidelines for school site improvements.
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