It has been highly rewarding to work with Australian schools over many years and to watch how their locker requirements have grown and evolved.
Our case study, featuring Abbotsleigh School, details how Davell’s lockers, emblazoned in School House colours and fitted with 3 dial combination locks, have become a colourful part of daily routine in this proactive private school.
Here is more about this project:
An Anglican pre K-12 School for Girls
Davell regularly collaborates with primary and secondary schools to produce Australian-made lockers that fit the needs of today’s students.
Davell’s large range of lockers offers attractive, durable and functional storage solutions for busy schools. They can accommodate school backpacks, sports bags, laptops, text books, school blazers and personal items – as well as special art projects and musical instruments – all in the safety of a secure steel locker.
Davell has provided lockers for Abbotsleigh, a long-established leader in girls’ education from pre-Kindergarten to Year 12, catering to day students and boarders located across two campuses in Wahroonga, NSW. The school has very active students and a thriving school house competition.
Abbotsleigh’s locker needs
Initially, Abbotsleigh required some 170 lockers for their senior school students in 2018. A representative from Davell met with Abbotsleigh’s Director of Property Mr Simon Jarrett to obtain the full brief and to understand the specific requirements of the project. The importance of Australian made was key for Mr Jarrett, highlighting that the school took into account the fact that Davell’s steel lockers were Australian made when making their purchase decision. “We like to source products locally where possible for environmental reasons and to support Australian industries,” Mr Jarrett said.
Product quality and customer service were also important considerations when choosing Davell, with Mr Jarrett adding, “I love Davell’s can-do attitude and willingness to always listen to customers, as well as their drive to constantly improve their products.”
Functionality and locking
When it came to functionality, the type of the lock was a major consideration, along with easy code settings and the ability to pass on locking instructions to students. At Abbotsleigh, each senior school student was provided with a locker, fitted with a mechanical 3 dial combination lock.
Davell recommended this style of lock with Mr Jarrett commenting that there have, to date, been “zero breakdowns and smooth day-to-day operations”. He also added his own tips for locking functionality, producing an instructional video for the students.
House colours
Abbotsleigh opted for the locker designs to reflect the school’s House colours and with eight Houses in the Senior School the effect is vibrant and special. “We are really happy to be using our bright House colours on the locker doors – it’s made the environment feel playful and it enhances the girls’ connection to their House,” Mr Jarrett said.
Mr Jarrett’s tips for choosing the right lockers
When planning your locker project, consultation with all relevant stakeholders is critical.
Mr Jarrett recommends consulting with students and Year Advisors/Co-ordinators to determine the size and design of the locker that best suits your needs. Davell staff can guide you in terms of options. He advises, “Don’t rush. Plan well in advance. Plot the layout carefully on a floorplan and again walk though it with Davell staff.”
The planning phase will help identify different factors in the locker environment and, as Mr Jarrett points out, “If you have uneven floors, consider going with an adjustable plinth to ensure the lockers line up beautifully.”
Davell’s results
The reaction from Abbotsleigh’s students has been resoundingly positive, with the lockers fitting the bill for a wide range of bulky items including back-pack bags, sports bags, hats, blazers, laptops, folders, textbooks, tennis racquets and hockey sticks. And it’s not a memorable school locker without some individuality; Mr Jarrett adds, “Our girls like to add a personal touch to the inside of the door with photos etc.”
Abbotsleigh were so pleased with their first order in 2018 that they purchased more than 350 lockers in 2019 – a very positive affirmation of the decision to partner with Davell.
Mr Jarrett confirms, “Davell projects are delivered on time, to specification and are of high quality. Every staff-member, from designer to installer, is a pleasure to deal with.”
Conclusion
Davell has been delighted to work with Abbotsleigh to provide a fit for purpose locker solution and for other local schools including Ravenswood School for Girls, The Illawarra Grammar School, Brigidine College – St Ives, Presbyterian Ladies College – Sydney, Methodist Ladies College – Burwood, OLMC – Parramatta and The Kings School – Parramatta.
Things to consider when ordering your lockers
Size:
What do you want your lockers to hold? And how many doors high do you require?
Location:
Where will the lockers be located? Under an awning or semi-exposed to the elements?
Colour & Finish:
What colour or finish do you want for your lockers? Do you want your lockers to reflect house colours or feature school crests?
Locking:
What type of lock best suits your school and administration purposes? Do you want electronic, keyless or smartcard locks linked to student ID cards?
Features:
Do you want sloping tops to prevent unsightly storage on top of the locker?
Charging Lockers:
Do you want lockers that charge and store laptops, tablets and phones?
Discover how Davell can provide storage strategies for your school.
View our locker ranges via our website and consult our School Locker Buying Guide for tips on what features will match your school’s requirements.
Contact us today for an obligation free assessment of your locker requirements on 1800 069 105 or email.
You can download a copy of the Abbotsleigh School Case Study here.
