Cranbourne West Secondary College for year 7-12 students has an inclusion hub that is designed to support a higher number of students with developmental or physical requirements than a typical mainstream school. The school buildings and its grounds have been imagined as a community heart that is inviting and engaging, with emphasis on nature-inspired learning.
This secondary school masterplan is organised as a home base + community + neighbourhood model. Three learning neighbourhood buildings accommodate up to 24 home bases, which can be arranged into two learning communities. The learning communities provide a collaborative environment that enables students to know their peers and to create a sense of belonging.
Intensive learning spaces are provided in the visual arts and science + technology buildings with zones for practical activities and theory, and a range of collaborative spaces to enable cross disciplinary connections and the curated display of student work and resources. The community hub has learning spaces for food technology and the performing arts, each with strong connections to the outdoors, including a performance area and productive gardens. These spaces, along with a generous gallery foyer and the sports hall provide the school with a venue for large gatherings and performances.
All teaching spaces are designed to encourage collaborative learning experiences. General learning areas and specialist teaching spaces are provided with additional support spaces which enable peer to peer learning, small or large group work, class presentation and more traditional didactic learning.
Where possible, connections between teaching spaces are prioritised to provide a communal or shared learning experience throughout the entire campus.
Cranbourne West Secondary College will accommodate 1,100 students long term enrolment and 1200 students peak enrolment. It is one of seven new schools that we delivered in collaboration with Design Inc in the space of two years (from brief to delivery) to meet the deadlines for the VSBA New Schools 2021 program:
– Aintree Primary School
– Cranbourne West Secondary College
– Edenbrook Secondary College
– Gaayip-Yagila Primary School
– Garrang Wilam Primary School
– Ramlegh Park Primary School
– Riverbend Primary School
Collaboration credits – DesignInc
Photography credits – Dianna Snape