Clearview

A New Primary School at Rolleston

Clearview School Site MapThis new years 1-8 school is in a fast growing township 20kms south of Christchurch. It is on a flat site, with three pods of 17 classrooms around a playground complex. Two further pods (centre left) will take its capacity to 600.

Pods surround heart of the schoolJunior classes are in the pods to the left with the years 7-8 pod in the distance. Each school level has its own adventure playground in the sunny and well landscaped heart.

Reception/Admin and Staff/LibraryThe library, principal’s and DP’s office (lower) all look out onto the heart of the school. Reception, administration and teaching resources are spaciously accommodated.

ReceptionThe light and friendly reception desk is supported by large back-office spaces. The principal’s and DP’s offices, plus a meeting room, are to right and left.

ReceptionThe executive officer has a large office to the right of reception. The all-glass entry foyer is welcoming. The multi-purpose hall and its meeting rooms are seen on the other side of the entry to the school.

Principal’s officeFrom his desk and lounge-style office, principal James Petronelli can see into the heart of the school and all the classroom pods.

Staffroom and meeting roomThe staffroom is large, bright and sunny and opens into a formal meeting room with board table on the right. The well-equipped staff kitchen can double as a food technology space.

Resource production and storageNext to the staffroom is this area for teaching resource production (left) and storage in Lundia shelving (right).

LibraryBig windows, some at student height, and mobile and varied furniture are features of the library.

Library student work roomThis adjunct to the library (“Discovery Zone”) provides floor and desk space for students’ work, with a southern view into the heart of the school.

Six room podA learning studio (commons space) of 155 sq ms gives entry to the six “homebases” (classrooms), all of which are 59 sq ms. Each pair of classrooms shares a “quiet room” of eight sq ms (green) and the six teachers have a 24 sq ms office at top centre.

Five room podThe layout is the same as in the six room pod, but there is one fewer little quiet rooms and the teachers’ office is slightly smaller. In both pods teachers and students have several choices of places for work, including rotundas outside the back of the pod.

Indoor/outdoorEach pair of classrooms opens, at the rear, into one of these paved and sheltered rotundas for breakout groups of students.

Learning studiosAll the classrooms (left) open into a warm commons space. The teachers’ office and toilets are on the right.

Learning studioThere is ample space and light in the learning studios for several groups of students and teachers .

HomebaseAll the classrooms have purpose-designed interlocking tables for multiple configurations, interactive whiteboards and data projectors, plenty of display space, student storage lockers, and wireless and sound field systems.

HomebaseThe other side of the room includes the teacher’s work station, access to the quiet room and outdoor rotunda at centre left, sliding whiteboards and more storage lockers.

Homebase/learning studioBig sliding glass doors open into the learning studio and across to the teachers’ office and student toilets.

Teachers’ officeThere is plenty of space, equipment and storage….and a window back into the learning studio and classrooms.

Teachers’ officeAt the other end there is space for music and sports equipment, and for a cow of laptops.

VisionWhat drove the planning of these teaching and learning pods was a vision of Clearview year 8 graduate students being: “Skilled thinkers and communicators stepping out with confidence”. As this representation of the school’s vision shows, the students are to be lifted by success in the key competencies and by an inquiry approach to learning.

The establishment board of trustees and their architect therefore created multiple and flexible spaces in which students and teachers could carry out inquiry learning, and the presentation of that learning.

Green and healthyThese garden plots, by the year 7-8 pod, indicate the green and healthy policies of Clearview…as does the water recycling plant at the right.

An active schoolClearview students are encouraged to cycle and scooter to school, and be physically active while they are there.

Multi-purpose hallThe community meeting room also encourages physical activity during the school day.

Multi-purpose hallThe hall, currently of about 470 sq ms but capable of extension, is used for assemblies, performing arts, physical education, and community gatherings.