Ashwood CLC (Collaborative Learning Centre)

The new facilities embraced the education philosophies and programs within the school. The facilities were designed to support learning environments where multi-aged classes are commonplace, where team teaching is a regular occurrence, where small groups of students could be released for targeted instruction, and where current and emerging technologies could be implemented and utilised with ease. The learning spaces needed to be inviting, light filled, exciting and needed to engender pride and respect. From 2010 the school embarked on a number of related and complementary educational improvement strategies. A curriculum with vertical subject blockings was introduced which created many multi-aged classes. There were numerous team teaching situations timetabled, and staff began to review and improve their pedagogy to embrace this opportunity. 1:1 learning devices were introduced to all students in the school which required pedagogical and infrastructure changes.

Whilst there are countless things that contribute to the success of a project, in this instance there were two key points of difference. Firstly, the Masterplan which integrates educational priorities, facilities and operations with a long term whole school perspective, ensured that all decisions had a reference point and were connected to long term goals and an agreed future. Secondly, the close relationship with the architects and the school, managed through the school’s liaison manager enabled quick and clear identification and clarification of issues and a comprehensive and shared understanding of all requirements