Introduction to Performing Classrooms

Introduction

1. The Ministry is undertaking a project to provide boards of trustees, principals, teachers and designers with access to information that can assist them design quality teaching and learning environments.

2. This work will look at the quality requirements for the internal environment of spaces such as acoustics, ventilation, heating and lighting, changing curriculum and teaching practice. It will also consider what this might mean for teaching space design, the impact of different types of school organisation on school layout as well as other factors such as sustainability in design, the requirements for special needs students, ICT and security.

3. As part of this project the Ministry will identify current design standards and practices that need to be followed and give examples of best practice in design solutions. It may also identify if current standards need to be reviewed. The views of boards, principals, teachers and students will be sought as to what they think are important in school design and this will be made available.

4. In developing its advice to schools the Ministry does not propose to replicate research that has already been carried out, or is being carried out, in New Zealand or overseas and this will be referenced as much as possible.

5. The information contained on this site will be expanded, as further information/research becomes available.

Copyright

The Ministry of Education has, in this site/publication, referred to electronic resources which are accessible to the public. The Ministry acknowledges that the copyright in those resources remains with the owner and that it has no permission to reproduce those resources [to the extent that affects the copyright] without the permission of the respective owners. Persons wishing to reproduce those resources are reminded that they are required to comply with the conditions that attach to each copyright work and should check each site carefully for those conditions.