Kauri Flats

Innovative Learning Spaces


Innovative learning environments support strengths-based teaching. They offer students and teachers flexibility, openness, and access to resources. Working in an open, flexible learning environment where inquiries are shared, interventions devised collaboratively, and reflections based on both self and peer observations, leads to a more robust, continuously improving community of practice.

An innovative environment is one that is capable of evolving and adapting as educational practices evolve and change – thus remaining future focused.

At Kauri Flats our Bases (learning spaces/classrooms) are designed to ensure the best of both worlds for our students. Bases have been designed to ensure the flexibility of learning and ease of group teaching whilst also keeping the structure of a sound learning programme.  

We appreciate that ILE’s are still a relatively new concept in New Zealand and with this in mind we have designed our learning spaces so that they are not just one large space, but they have areas for students to learning in a variety of ways - small/large groups, individually, with their teacher etc.  The design means our spaces are adaptable to suit the needs of all of our students.

Innovative Learning Spaces can take time for some students to adjust to and this is why we have been very strategic in the school visits we have undertaken and also with the furniture and design of each base too.  This way students can be integrated smoothly into the environment - very much like transitioning from kindergarten to new entrants.

The ILS does however open up so many more teaching opportunities and even more collaboration amongst teachers and students. Our ultimate aim is to ensure our students receive not only the best educational experiences but equip them with the skills to succeed in life, whichever layer of industry/profession they should choose to be involved in by developing;

  • self-directed learning.

  • developing high-level cognitive skills - inquiry, listening and analysis.

  • personalised learning paths so students can learn content at their own pace and in ways that work best for them.With teachers having the most impact by leading interdisciplinary projects and other rich performance tasks that help students weave together content knowledge and high-level cognitive skills.