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Photo by Joe Lloyd | Nelson Mail

Nayland College in the News

Nayland College —

Nayland College has been popping up in some positive media stories recently. Here are some articles published recently.

Nelson Weekly Article: 

https://issuu.com/nelsonweekly/docs/zz_nelwk-20190821_pg_1-32_lowres

Image by: Nayland College

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/115140183/wait-for-classrooms-over-as-schools-25m-renovation-completed

Wait for classrooms over as school's $2.5m renovation completed

By Katy Jones

The last stage of a $2.5 million renovation project at Nelson's Nayland College is finally complete, marking up another notch along the school's "transformational pathway".

A block of nine refurbished classrooms were officially opened Friday, as part of the development announced in 2017 that also saw a revamp of the school's canteen and installation of a multi-purpose sports turf last year.

The project, funded mostly by Ministry of Education, was initially set down for completion around Easter 2018.

Principal Daniel Wilson said the hold-up was due mainly to delays in getting contractors on site, with waits centered around the tender process.

Wilson was "delighted" with the finished product, which was based on the Ministry's new modern learning environment initiatives.

"Students have said to me that it feels like a university type space, that they feel more grown up in here and that they feel respected, and that they're more likely to be engaged in learning when the environment is nice."

The top floor of the two storey block, and most of the bottom floor was gutted for the revamp of mainly social science classrooms.

As well as double glazing, air conditioning and improved insulation, there was now more visibility between classrooms, the ability to open them up, and for students to work in "breakout" areas, Wilson said.

"The ministry do have requirements around modern learning environments, but of course it's a 50-year-old building, so we're reasonably limited in what we can do.

"Rather than go with big open barns, like some schools have done, we've made the decision to make it a flexible learning environment."

The block, which includes two science labs and an English classroom, has been in use since the start of this term.

Year 9 student student, Ysabella Abel, said the refurbished classroom spaces were more spacious, and offered a "different vibe" which was easier to learn in.

Fellow student, Lani Kalapu, agreed the breakout spaces let students take a fresh look at their work.

"It's quite nice not to have to do [all] our work in the classroom."

Planning was now under way for the next stage of the school's property redevelopment, which would likely focus on the front of the college, Wilson said.

The opening comes just weeks before the school finds out if it has won a national award that it was shortlisted for, for a transformation in learning.

Nayland College is among four finalists in the Excellence in Leading category the Prime Minister's Education Excellence Awards, the winners of which will be announced at the Beehive in September.