More than $120 million will be spent building more classrooms across Auckland as the Government creates a new school property agency and reveals two new school locations.
Education Minister Erica Stanford announced the spending would provide 137 new classrooms, creating space for more than 3000 new students.
It comes after the Government announced it would ditch open-plan classrooms and opt for standard designs. These classrooms would be built off-site from “cost-effective repeatable designs”, Stanford said.
The schools getting extra classrooms are:
All the projects are expected to enter construction in the next 12 months.
Stanford said the Government was investing heavily in extra classrooms to support Auckland’s rapid growth.
A site had been bought in Pōkeno, Southern Auckland, to build a new primary school.
A new Junior College would also be built in Chapel Downs on the site of Chapel Downs Primary School.
The Chapel Downs school is expected to open in term 1, 2027, with an initial roll of up to 270. The roll is expected to grow to more than 1000 students in time.
Stanford’s announcement also said a New Zealand School Property Agency (NZSPA) would be created within the current parliamentary term, to be responsible for planning, building, maintaining and administering the school property portfolio.
“With the establishment of the NZSPA, schools can expect improved project delivery and communication, better value for money, and an increased level of transparency around decision-making.”
Earlier this week, Stanford revealed the Government’s plans to ditch open-plan classrooms in favour of standard designs that “prioritise flexibility”.
Stanford said she had received overwhelming feedback from schools that open-plan classrooms were not meeting the needs of students.
“While open-plan designs were originally intended to foster collaboration, they have often created challenges for schools, particularly around noise and managing student behaviour.”
In many cases, they reduced flexibility, rather than enhanced it, she said.
“We have listened to the sector, and new classrooms will no longer be open plan.”
All new classrooms would be built using standard designs that prioritised flexibility.
“For example, the use of glass sliding doors means spaces can be open when classes collaborate, but can also close for focused learning. This approach ensures schools have fit-for-purpose environments that support a range of teaching and learning styles.
“This Government is focused on raising achievement and closing the equity gap, and an important part of our reform package is ensuring learning spaces are designed to improve student outcomes.”
Stanford also announced that Porirua’s Aotea College would be getting 16 new classrooms.
She called the school a prime example of where open-plan classrooms did not support learning outcomes.
“The lack of functionality of the open design meant spaces could not be shared or multipurpose due to disruption and noise. This investment will deliver new, standard teaching spaces that better meet the needs of both students and staff.”
Julia Gabel is a Wellington-based political reporter. She joined the Herald in 2020 and has most recently focused on data journalism.