Auckland Park Preparatory School girls take playtime to new heights
Auckland Park Preparatory School’s giant new playground has turned break time into the most exciting part of the day.
Auckland Park Preparatory School (APPS) has unveiled a new playground that is said to already be transforming daily life at school, bringing movement, creativity, and excitement to girls from grades 0 to 7.
The impressive 40m interactive play structure features climbing walls, bridge walks, monkey bars, hammocks, net climbing areas, and three slides, with some sections rising nearly 2m off the ground for older girls. Interactive building spaces and ball-run channels encourage imaginative and collaborative play, while coloured perspex panels cast patterns of light across the playground throughout the day.
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Since its installation, the jungle gym has become a vibrant focal point of the school. Break times are now described as being filled with constant activity and laughter as girls climb, build, invent games, challenge themselves, and connect across age groups. “Our hope was to create a space where girls could move, imagine, explore, and simply enjoy being children,” said Joanne Glendinning, APPS headmistress. “The response has been incredible. The playground is constantly alive with energy, laughter, and creativity.”
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The enthusiasm for the new playground spans every grade. “It’s the best playground ever,” said one Grade 0 pupil. “I love the slides and all the rainbow colours shining across the playground.”
A Grade 3 learner described it as a giant adventure where there’s always something new to do, while a Grade 7 girl admitted the older pupils may love it most of all. “We thought it would mostly be for the little girls, but now everyone wants to be there.”
While designed as a place for play, the jungle gym has already become much more than that. Staff say the space is encouraging confidence, creativity, problem-solving, and connection among the girls, who use it every day. One thing, however, is already certain – break time never feels long enough anymore.
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