Arrowtown Primary School is nestled in the idyllic and historical Arrowtown township, on the edge of the Wakatipu Basin. Despite being one of the larger primary schools in the Central Otago region and a hub for the local community to congregate, Arrowtown Primary School maintains its small school ambience. 

With existing facilities no longer fit for purpose and the local regions population steadily increasing, Arrowtown school required significant enhancements. The school’s brief was to create a dynamic future focused learning environment, that ensured children would feel comfortable, supported, inspired and encouraged to follow the school motto of “Go for Gold”. 

The new learning areas promote a diverse range of teaching spaces that ensure the learner is at the centre of learning. The spaces are flexible and enable various learning opportunities to take place on in large or more intimate groups. The indoor – outdoor flow creates a connection to the outdoor environment, that embodies the natural beauty and surroundings of Arrowtown. 

The building encapsulates the schools’ objectives and provides a welcoming haven for the community to gather in. The Principal notes that the building and landscape has “led to a settled learning culture” and “has contributed to children wanting to come to school each day”.

Awards

Commendation: 2022 Learning Environments New Zealand - For Excellence in Educational Facilities - New Educational Facility: Large