North Shore Times (New Zealand)
$4.5m invested in collaborative learning
Takapuna Primary School has moved into its newly finished $4.5 million classroom block.
The two-storey building, which the Ministry of Education allocated funds for in order to respond to roll growth and to replace old teaching spaces, accommodates for 10 classes worth of children.
That’s roughly 270 students. The school’s roll is currently sitting just under 500, having exponentially grown in just a few years ago, principal Cindy Walsh said.
The new block will allow the roll to grow to a capacity of 700 student spaces, which Walsh thought the school may reach in just two years’ time.
All up, total learning spaces have increased from 15 to 22.
The new block, which took a year to complete after a two-year design phase, is a flexible learning space where children in multiple classes share their learning areas.
Walsh said the new learning environment and the style of education allowed teachers to work together to provide better support for children.
‘‘Already we have seen a positive difference in learning outcomes for learners in such a short time.’’
The school will demolish two old prefab classrooms which the new build has replaced.
The existing playground is also destined for demolition in order to make way for a new $120,000 playground to accommodate roll growth.
Walsh said the school’s Parent Teacher Association and Board of Trustees would fund the majority of the cost, supplemented by grant application funding.