Did your school have a climbing frame folded against the walls of the hall? Did you ever get to go on it?

[ScarilyClose]

One of the DC mentioned earlier something about never getting to go on the big climbing frame in the school hall and it unlocked my own memory of never getting to go on the big climbing frame in the school hall 😂

I went to 3 different schools from 4-16 and between them my DC have been to at least 7, and now we've discussed it none of us ever remember anyone getting a go on the big climbing frame in the hall. Going to ask DP about his memories of this when he gets home!

I remember playing pirates on the aparatus. I was one of only 2 girls who could climb to the top of the ropes, we used to stay there for the whole lesson and no-one could catch us!

I remember going on the ropes and was one of the very few who could get to the top. I was a very unsporty child, so this was a big triumph.

Yes and yes. In primary school anyway. Last PE session every half term all the Apparatus (!) and mats were put out and we got to play Pirates.

My friends and I all used to do the hanging upside down from the top of the outdoor climbing frame thing, no special surfaces or health and safety back in those days! (1970s for me in Primary School)

@MoltenLasagne also had a full proper maypole and could and did do the maypole dancing on May Day. The top went missing at some point so it stopped being used. I was also an attendant for the May queen and had lovely grey shoes with a small heel and a basket of flowers.

Did others also eat their lunch in the school hall and if you had bare foot afternoon PE you were always treading in squashed peas?

I was taught how to use the "large apparatus" for PE lessons when I was training as a teacher in the 1980s.

We were actually specifically taught not to worry because children would only do what they felt confident to do and so it was perfectly safe!!!!

Hahahahaha ‘the apparatus’ huge childhood memory unlocked

I remember going on it just once and the teacher taking loads of photos of us for our journal thing - so presumably that’s the only reason we were allowed 😂

Wall bars? Never. I don't think I ever saw them unfolded in my 7 years at primary school.

My dad was a secondary PE teacher for more than 20 years and he had them in his school gym too, never used them except as a rail for jumpers when the kids were playing basketball/volleyball or similar.

Primary in late 70s

Apparatus included:
2 x massive climbing frames that locked flat against the wall
Metal 'beam' that was height adjustable, round and slippery
2 x Leather Horse
4 x Free-hanging ropes
Leather beam
Bench
Wooden hoops hanging on ropes

We did 'circuits'
Floor was rock hard
Crash mats were paper thin
Many MANY sprained wrists and fractures.

same here

We had the most exciting blue Apparatus (with a capital A) fitted at my primary in the 80s when I was in fourth year (it wasn’t year 6 then). We were allowed on it in the final PE lesson of every half term.

I have taught in my current school for 18 years and I can confirm that there is an ancient frame folded against the walls of the gym that the children must NEVER EVER GO ON.

I think only a few times to be photographed. There was a girl in my class who did ballet who was exceptional on the apparatus. The rest of the time it was mat work, or jumping over the horse. We also had to high jump onto a big blue mattress and long jump into a sand pit thing. Oh and the ropes came down to climb every once in a while. The half of it wouldn’t be allowed now. I was in primary late 80s/early 90s.

Pretty much the same.

Yes!! Why did they never let us on it 😹 I think I remember a handful of times but the fact it looked expensive to build in was not reflected in the usage in PE lessons

I know exactly why teachers didn't let you on it very often...
because managing 30+ over-excited children on that kind of equipment, sorting out groups and supervising it all without someone getting hurt/pushed/falling from a height etc required way more energy than most teachers could muster on a wet Thursday afternoon!

Yes at lower and middle school. There wasn’t one at upper.

Definitely had them at secondary, and I remember using the roles at least. My main memory is sitting in there having finished a GCSE exam early, but not being allowed to leave yet, and counting the bricks between the gaps in the upper wallbars and then estimating how many bricks in the entire wall. Can't remember my conclusion.

The gym was separate from the school hall, which was also separate from the dining hall.

Yes we did, and no it never came out!

Oh I’m a TA and sit with children in exams. Sometimes they need very little help so I count everything I can see. Lights, ceiling beams, windows, bricks. Honestly so boring 🥱

Was this in Grantham , by any chance?

Are you my best friend from secondary school? We used to do that too! 😂

80’s kid, went on it without fail every week. Headmaster had been in the army. All of us could shimmy up the ropes to the top.

I remember it wheeled out and clipped into the floor

The PE benches hooked onto it to make ramps. And there were gymnastics rings attached which no one could use. Remember a climbing net too.

I can remember hanging limply from the rings with no strength to do anything 🤣

Going there now.

Yes and no we never saw it folded out ever.

Just like the ‘computers for schools’ vouchers - diligently collected them and never saw any new computer equipment