---
title: The rule change that's made school canopy projects easier to arrange
description: How Standish Community High School created extra dining space without touching their capital budget
image: https://blog.isbl.org.uk/hubfs/canopies%20uk.png
---

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# The rule change that's made school canopy projects easier to arrange

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 Canopies  
April 30, 2026

<https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.isbl.org.uk/the-rule-change-thats-made-school-canopy-projects-easier-to-arrange&title=The%20rule%20change%20that's%20made%20school%20canopy%20projects%20easier%20to%20arrange&picture=https://20333450.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20333450/canopies%20uk.png&description=How%20Standish%20Community%20High%20School%20created%20extra%20dining%20space%20without%20touching%20their%20capital%20budget> <https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=https://blog.isbl.org.uk/the-rule-change-thats-made-school-canopy-projects-easier-to-arrange&text=The%20rule%20change%20that's%20made%20school%20canopy%20projects%20easier%20to%20arrange> <http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.isbl.org.uk/the-rule-change-thats-made-school-canopy-projects-easier-to-arrange&title=The%20rule%20change%20that's%20made%20school%20canopy%20projects%20easier%20to%20arrange&summary=How%20Standish%20Community%20High%20School%20created%20extra%20dining%20space%20without%20touching%20their%20capital%20budget> [mailto:?subject=I%20wanted%20you%20to%20see%20this%20site&body=Check%20out%20this%20site:%0D%0AThe%20rule%20change%20that's%20made%20school%20canopy%20projects%20easier%20to%20arrange%0D%0Ahttps://blog.isbl.org.uk/the-rule-change-thats-made-school-canopy-projects-easier-to-arrange.](mailto:?subject=I%20wanted%20you%20to%20see%20this%20site&body=Check%20out%20this%20site:%0D%0AThe%20rule%20change%20that's%20made%20school%20canopy%20projects%20easier%20to%20arrange%0D%0Ahttps://blog.isbl.org.uk/the-rule-change-thats-made-school-canopy-projects-easier-to-arrange.)

*How Standish Community High School created extra dining space without touching their capital budget*

Last year, Canopies UK worked with [Standish Community High School](https://www.canopiesuk.co.uk/case-studies/midshire-catering-standish-high-school/) in Wigan to install an enclosed dining canopy. The dining hall was overcrowded and lunchtimes were harder to manage than they should be. The school wanted extra covered space but didn't want a permanent building extension. A canopy was the practical answer, and they used finance leasing to make it happen.

The main frame went up over summer and the panels were fitted in time for September. Midshire Catering started their new contract with the space ready to go from day one.

Since late 2024, when the requirement for Secretary of State approval was removed, finance leasing has become a lot faster and simpler to arrange for both maintained schools and academies. Finance covers the full project – design, manufacture and installation. Payments are spread across financial years, so it doesn't disrupt what you've already allocated elsewhere. And at the end of the lease, the canopy is owned by the school outright.

**Canopies UK has been installing canopies in schools for over 30 years. If you've got a project in mind, a** [**free site survey**](https://www.canopiesuk.co.uk/request-a-survey/) **is the easiest starting point. Find out more about** [**school canopy finance**](https://www.canopiesuk.co.uk/payment-plans/) **on our website.**

 

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Canopies

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