Scots All Saints College’s planned innovation centre to transform education in region | Western Advocate
Scots All Saints College’s planned innovation centre to transform education in region
Scots All Saints College announces plans for new innovation centre
ON SITE: Scots All Saints College Head of College John Weeks with middle school captains Emily Browne and Zane Newham. Photo: BRADLEY JURD
Shirley Burrow, John Cranfield, Zane Newham, Bruce Clydsdale, Emily Browne and Rosie Bayliss. Photo: BRADLEY JURD
Scots All Saints College innovation centre internal design concept.
Scots All Saints College innovation centre internal design concept.
Scots All Saints College innovation centre internal design concept.
Scots All Saints College innovation centre internal design concept.
Scots All Saints College innovation centre external design concept.
Scots All Saints College innovation centre external design concept.
Scots All Saints College innovation centre external design concept.
The first sod was turned on Tuesday for Scots All Saints College’s new innovation centre, which the school believes will transform education in the Central West region.
The school is also hopeful that the new innovation centre will help make the school one of the leading hub’s for education in the Central West region.
At the new innovation centre, students will be able to develop their learning in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), design, nature, growth and the environment.
Head of College, John Weeks, said the innovation centre will be the first of its kind in regional NSW.
“The Scots All Saints innovation centre will bring the world’s best practice in education to regional NSW, enabling our students to work collaboratively and develop knowledge to propel them into network pathways and long-term success as the next generation of leaders,” he said.
President of the College Foundation, Bruce Clydsdale, was also on hand to present a cheque worth $750,000, will will be used to help fund the project.
Mr Clydsdale explained that Scots All Saints College and its predecessors have had a long history of innovation.
“That includes computing, with the first interactive classroom computer in 1975, teaching of Asian languages and the staff-designed life skills course in 1978, which is now almost identical to the PDHPE curriculum,” he said.
“The College Foundation directors voted unanimously to fund this new innovative development.”
The new innovation centre is modelled on a United States prototype and will be a purpose-built building covering 600 square metres in size to accommodate spacious, open plan and interactive learning spaces.
The learning spaces in incorporate six distinct learning labs – design, bodies, energy and hi-tech, growth, digital, and young investors.
Building and construction is expected to start as soon as possible, to be completed and ready for use in 2020.
The site of the innovation centre will be at the All Saints campus.