Latest news with #AoteaCollege
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
New Zealand ends open-plan classroom construction after schools report noise and behavior management issues
TIL Creatives New Zealand Education Minister Erica Stanford announces end to open-plan classroom construction, citing noise and behavior management challenges reported by schools nationwide (AI generated image) New Zealand ends open-plan classroom construction after schools report noise and behavior management issues New Zealand will halt construction of open-plan classrooms following extensive feedback from schools about their effectiveness, Education Minister Erica Stanford announced today. Stanford said the government received "overwhelming feedback" from schools indicating the classroom design was not meeting student needs. Also read: New Zealand's $100 million purse for better maths education in schools"While open-plan designs were originally intended to foster collaboration, they have often created challenges for schools, particularly around noise and managing student behaviour," Stanford stated. Modern Learning Environments (MLEs) featuring flexible layouts, reduced walls, and multiple classes with teachers were introduced by the Ministry of Education in 2011 under John Key's National Government to promote collaboration and flexibility. "In many cases, open-plan classrooms reduce flexibility, rather than enhance it. We have listened to the sector, and new classrooms will no longer be open plan," Stanford said. The government has not designed or built open-plan classes since taking office, except for specifically requested new classrooms will use standard designs "that prioritise flexibility over open-plan layouts."Also read: New Zealand Finance Minister Nicola Willis' budget 2025 full speech: Trump's tariffs, slow growth, economi "For example, the use of glass sliding doors mean 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," Stanford explained. Stanford said new classrooms would be "efficient and sustainable" while noting the government reduced average classroom costs by 28 per cent. "We're continuing to drive down costs so more Kiwi kids can access them, faster. In 2025, new classrooms cost on average $620,000 compared to $1.2 million at the end of 2023," she said. Stanford announced two Wellington schools would receive new classrooms through a $25 million targeted investment addressing population Intermediate will receive 10 new classrooms, while Aotea College will get 16 classrooms."Aotea College is a prime example where existing 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," Stanford said. Also read: Auckland's Kingsway School teacher accused of assault, police probe launched Construction planning is underway for both projects, with building expected to begin within 12 months.
1News
4 days ago
- Politics
- 1News
No more open-plan school classrooms to be built
The Government will stop building open-plan classrooms, the Minister of Education announced today. In a statement, Education Minister Erica Stanford said she had received "overwhelming feedback" from schools that the 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.' Modern Learning Environments (MLEs), which utilise flexible layouts, fewer walls, and at times have multiple classes and teachers, were introduced by the Ministry of Education in 2011 under John Key's National Government. They were designed to promote collaboration and flexibility. 'In many cases, open-plan classrooms reduce flexibility, rather than enhance it. We have listened to the sector, and new classrooms will no longer be open plan,' Stanford said. ADVERTISEMENT Since being elected, Stanford said the Government had not designed or built any open-plan classes, other than those that had been specifically requested. All new classrooms would now be built using standard designs "that prioritise flexibility over open-plan layouts". "For example, the use of glass sliding doors mean 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." Stanford also said the new classrooms would be "efficient and sustainable". She said the Government had lowered the average cost of a classroom by 28%, allowing for more to be built. "We're continuing to drive down costs so more Kiwi kids can access them, faster. In 2025, new classrooms cost on average $620,000 compared to $1.2 million at the end of 2023.' Stanford announced that two schools in Wellington would receive new classrooms as part of a $25 million targeted investment to address population growth. ADVERTISEMENT Newlands Intermediate would get 10 new classrooms, while Aotea College would receive 16. 'Aotea College is a prime example where existing 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," Stanford said. Planning was underway for both projects, with construction expected to begin within the next 12 months.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Government Calls Time On Open-Plan Classrooms
Minister of Education The Government has put an end to building open-plan classrooms, ensuring all new classrooms are designed in a flexible way to ensure better student outcomes. 'Overwhelming feedback I've received from schools across New Zealand is open-plan classrooms aren't 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,' Education Minister Erica Stanford says. '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. 'In many cases, open-plan classrooms reduce flexibility, rather than enhance it. We have listened to the sector and new classrooms will no longer be open plan.' The Government has not designed and built open plan classes since being in office other than classrooms that have been specifically requested. All new classrooms will be built using standard designs that prioritise flexibility over open-plan layouts. For example, the use of glass sliding doors mean 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. 'We are ensuring school property delivery is efficient and sustainable. We've lowered the average cost of a classroom by 28 per cent so we could deliver 30 per cent more classrooms last year compared to 2023. We're continuing to drive down costs so more Kiwi kids can access them, faster. In 2025, new classrooms cost on average $620,000 compared to $1.2 million at the end of 2023.' Wellington is the latest region to benefit from this, with a $25 million targeted investment into areas experiencing population growth. The schools receiving new classrooms are: Newlands Intermediate – 10 classrooms Aotea College – 16 classrooms 'Aotea College is a prime example where existing 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. 'Delivering these classrooms through repeatable designs and offsite-manufactured buildings also ensures we are achieving maximum value for money. Planning is already underway for these projects, with construction expected to begin within the next 12 months,' Ms Stanford says.
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Erica Stanford pulls pin on open-plan classrooms
Education Minister Erica Stanford. Photo: RNZ The government will end the construction of open-plan classrooms in favour of a new "flexible" design. Education Minister Erica Stanford said open-plan designs were supposed to foster collaboration but created challenges around noise and managing student behaviour. "Overwhelming feedback I've received from schools across New Zealand is open-plan classrooms aren't meeting the needs of students," Stanford said. "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." New classrooms will be built using standard designs that prioritise flexibility, like the use of glass sliding doors that can open a class when it is time to collaborate and close it for focused learning. Shirley Boys' High School in Christchurch is spending $800,000 to convert their open plan classrooms, built in 2019, into single-cell rooms because to cut down on distractions. "In many cases, open-plan classrooms reduce flexibility, rather than enhance it. We have listened to the sector and new classrooms will no longer be open plan," Stanford said. She said the average cost of a classroom was coming down. "We've lowered the average cost of a classroom by 28 percent so we could deliver 30 percent more classrooms last year compared to 2023. We're continuing to drive down costs so more Kiwi kids can access them, faster. "In 2025, new classrooms cost on average $620,000 compared to $1.2 million at the end of 2023," Stanford said. The Wellington region will get $25 million of targeted investment in areas experiencing population growth. Newlands Intermediate will get 10 new classrooms, while Aotea College will get 16. Stanford said Aotea College was a prime example of where open-plan classrooms did not work. "The lack of functionality of the open design meant spaces could not be shared or multi-purpose due to disruption and noise. This investment will deliver new, standard teaching spaces that better meet the needs of both students and staff." Planning was already under way for these projects, with construction expected to begin within the next 12 months, Stanford said.
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Govt pulls pin on open-plan classrooms in schools
Education Minister Erica Stanford. Photo: RNZ The government will end the construction of open-plan classrooms in favour of a new "flexible" design. Education Minister Erica Stanford said open-plan designs were supposed to foster collaboration but created challenges around noise and managing student behaviour. "Overwhelming feedback I've received from schools across New Zealand is open-plan classrooms aren't meeting the needs of students," Stanford said. "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." New classrooms will be built using standard designs that prioritise flexibility, like the use of glass sliding doors that can open a class when it is time to collaborate and close it for focused learning. Shirley Boys' High School in Christchurch is spending $800,000 to convert their open plan classrooms, built in 2019, into single-cell rooms because to cut down on distractions. "In many cases, open-plan classrooms reduce flexibility, rather than enhance it. We have listened to the sector and new classrooms will no longer be open plan," Stanford said. She said the average cost of a classroom was coming down. "We've lowered the average cost of a classroom by 28 percent so we could deliver 30 percent more classrooms last year compared to 2023. We're continuing to drive down costs so more Kiwi kids can access them, faster. "In 2025, new classrooms cost on average $620,000 compared to $1.2 million at the end of 2023," Stanford said. The Wellington region will get $25 million of targeted investment in areas experiencing population growth. Newlands Intermediate will get 10 new classrooms, while Aotea College will get 16. Stanford said Aotea College was a prime example of where open-plan classrooms did not work. "The lack of functionality of the open design meant spaces could not be shared or multi-purpose due to disruption and noise. This investment will deliver new, standard teaching spaces that better meet the needs of both students and staff." Planning was already under way for these projects, with construction expected to begin within the next 12 months, Stanford said.
