Inaburra School unveils new learning spaces – the classrooms of the future
The Hon. Scott Morrison MP, Member for Cook and Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia, will
unveil the new 4-storey building including a state-of-the-art Stage 3 Learning Centre for Years 5 and 6, a
Senior School Learning Commons, additional facilities such as STEM room (for integrated Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics classes), a new glass-walled Principal’s Office and Junior School
sensory playground.
The Stage 3 Learning Centre: An open plan learning space for 112 students in Years 5 and 6. Photo: Stuart Wood.
The new facilities form part of the ongoing transformation of Inaburra’s built environment, recognising
that in order to produce students equipped for the 21st century workforce, the School’s learning
environment needs to remain progressive, contextual and flexible.
“This is a major step forward in our desire to shape life-long learners who will contribute to society,” said
Principal, Mr Tim Bowden. “Our emphasis, however, is not the building itself but rather what students and
teachers will experience within the four walls”.
The need to remain ‘ahead of the curve’ in the education sector has been a major driver of this building
project. “Current students will be required to adjust to a work environment that continues to be dynamic
and ever-changing,” stated Mr Bowden, “The future is as uncertain as ever and we are preparing our
students for careers and roles that do not currently exist. After much investigation both locally and
internationally we have leveraged elements of research and practice that we are confident will deliver an
exceptional learning experience for students across the school”.
THE STAGE 3 LEARNING CENTRE
The Stage 3 Learning Centre for Years 5 and 6 is designed to enable Stage-based teaching; there is one
class with 112 students and five or more teachers. The large open-plan space is differentiated primarily
through furnishing, creating smaller areas for groups to experience individual work, collaborative work
and direct instruction in groups from ten to 112 students. Rather than a highly-structured and regulated
classroom that aims for compliance, this space cultivates student engagement through the alignment of
the furnished environment with the learning activity taking place. This might include virtual conferencing,
flipped learning or collaborative projects. The Learning Centre also features a STEM/STEAM room for
‘hands on’ science experiments, technology workshops and MAKING (cooking, tinkering, model
construction).
The Stage 3 Learning Centre: Featuring a STEM/STEAM room for ‘hands on’ learning. Photo: Stuart Wood.
THE SENIOR SCHOOL LEARNING COMMONS
The Learning Commons is a space designed to bring together the functions of library, studio, individual
study pods and seminar zones in a single community gathering place. Students in Years 7-12 can engage
in self-directed, individual ‘cave’ or collaborative work and are able to exercise agency in their choice of
location and furniture, whether selecting an individual desk, a booth, a high table or a communal lounge.
Flexibility is the key, enabling each student to arrange their workspace in a way that facilitates the activity
of the moment. The Commons provides an experience akin to contemporary tertiary education facilities.
In dispensing with a traditional classroom structure the Commons encourages collaborative learning
where staff adopt the role of mentor or coach rather than teacher.
The Senior School Learning Commons: Pod chairs for students to concentrate on individual ‘cave’ work. Photo: Stuart Wood.
The Commons also facilitates an in-demand After-School Study and Peer Tutoring Program that
accommodates approximately 150 students Monday to Thursday each week.
The Senior School Learning Commons: A flexible and interchangeable learning space. Photo: Stuart Wood.
“Both the Commons and Learning Centre have been furnished with a priority on flexibility, mobility and
variety. Swivel chairs, semi-circular and rectangular tables, and lounges are all able to be easily deployed
in a variety of configurations, as best meets the learning needs of the student,” said Principal Tim Bowden.
NEW PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE
Appreciating that the Principal’s role is pivotal to the daily life of the School the decision was taken to
move the Principal’s office to the centre of the campus. The new location is highly visible to students as
they move around the grounds, and has established the office as an active core and connection point for
all members of the School Community. Glass walls allow students to see and be seen, they serve to make
the Principal’s role more transparent and physically incorporated into the fabric of the Inaburra learning
community.
The Stage 3 Learning Centre: Students can choose where they wish to work. Photo: Stuart Wood.
JUNIOR SCHOOL SENSORY PLAYGROUND
The new sensory playground is designed to encourage exploration and discovery. The open space includes
organic features such as a water course, sand pit, step logs and rocks encouraging children to engage in
similar play to that they would experience in the natural environment. Emphasis is placed on tactile,
natural elements to engage students’ fine and gross motor skills and capture their imaginations in a fun
and interactive setting.
NBRS Architects were commissioned to undertake the project. Their multidisciplinary practice, substantial
experience and extensive research were key elements in the successful delivery of the new facility.
Inaburra teaching staff love the ‘elastic’ design of the new learning environments which perfectly suit the
use of mobile technology and which encourage students to personalise their learning experiences.
Teachers are also benefiting, as the new spaces enable them to use a wider variety of teaching and learning
strategies like flipped and blended learning, on-line classes, small group work and team teaching – all
powered by high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the school.
In 2016 Inaburra was ranked among the 40 most innovative schools in Australia by education sector
magazine The Educator, in its Innovative Schools Report. The opening of this new facility continues
Inaburra’s push to adopt progressive practices in its goal to establish a culture of world-class teaching and
learning, where students are active participants in their educational journey.
The After-School Study and Peer Tutoring Program accommodates approximately 150 students for two hours Monday to Thursday each week. Photo: Stuart Wood.
http://privateschoolsguide.com/inaburra-school-bangor-nsw
For more information, please contact Monique Clement, Inaburra School Director of Community
Relations on email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Phone: 02 8525 2214
