It's been a 'long-time coming' but Wollongong Public School principal Harold Cosier couldn't be happier with the final product.
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Four years after the first plans, students and staff have settled into their new classrooms now that the multi-million dollar upgrade of the school is complete.
The project included a new two storey building with 10 new flexible learning spaces, which will give students the ability to use technology in a variety of settings and enhance their learning experience.
The upgrade also includes a new covered outdoor learning area (COLA), refurbished staff and administrative facilities, as well as improved building accessibility and landscaping around the school.
"We are very happy to finally have full access and get a lot of our playground back," Mr Cosier said.
"There were some heritage issues but we're very happy with the way it has come out.
The upgrade has actually given us an extra six classrooms...
- Wollongong Public School principal Harold Cosier
"One of the great things about this build and the current buildings is for the first time schools have actually had input into not so much the overall design but the internal structures and how we actually divide up the school spaces.
"So it was always going to have 10 teaching spaces and some shared spaces. But, we have the ability now to close those up for explicit teaching or we can actually open up so the teachers can work together with large groups of students. This new learning building encourages student-centred learning.
"There is a lot of diverse areas including multi-level spaces, as well not just desks all in rows, there are circular, semi-circular tables, there are low tables, there are standing tables."
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said she was proud that the NSW Government has delivered this important project for the Wollongong community.
"It's been fantastic to watch the progress of Wollongong Public School upgrade and I know the school community are excited to settle into its new facilities," Ms Mitchell said.
Mr Cosier said the upgrade means Wollongong Public School could increase its capacity from 520 students to 700.
"We were absolutely full with four demountables before then. The upgrade has actually given us an extra six classrooms to what we had at the start of the year."
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