Pymble Ladies’ College Year 6 Transformation

The Year 6 project forms part of a wider pedagogical transformation process underway at Pymble. This process, driven by changes in teaching practice, was physically commenced with simple spatial interventions to open up Year 5 classrooms in 2014, and progressed to this project, to accommodate the same cohort of girls in Year 6, 2015.

The functional brief was relatively straightforward. The strength of the planning process came from the team ‘s ability to learn from the Year 5 pilot year as it evolved, and to feedback these learnings into the process. The lead teachers in the Year 5 pilot were key members of the planning team, and other members had the benefit of ongoing observations of the pilot space. Discussions and adjustments to the plan continued over several months as the pilot year “bedded down ” and the opportunities in the existing buildings were explored. The design process went hand in hand with the evolution of the brief, again benefiting from the ongoing learning from the pilot group. The design opens up the former classrooms into contiguous space, and on the upper level captures the former enclosed verandah as part of the learning space. Two Quiet Nooks, for reading or other reflective activities, and two Focus Rooms, for acoustically private small group work, were provided as identified in the brief. Project space can be created in part of the plan, supported by wet facilities, and eventually, a kitchenette. An internal stair was created so as to minimise the disruption to the floor plan, but also within the constraints of the post tensioned structure. The connection between the levels thus created gives “equity ” to the smaller downstairs area.

“The Year 6 spaces have exceeded all of our expectations. It has been a pleasure to participate in the evolution of the pedagogical process well as being part of the growth in teachers and students ” Sue Knox, Head of Junior School, Pymble