John Palmer Public School

The design embraces the school community’s important aspiration of giving a sense of fun and adventure to learning. The circulation areas such as the main entry forecourt and the edges of the access areas are designed for childrens’ enjoyment and exploration with an ampitheatre, stepping stones and slides.

The new classrooms support learning and teaching of students in both individual and co-teaching mode and encourage professional learning for teachers. Shared practical activities areas (PAA) enable project-based learning while a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces allow for varied uses and learning group sizes.

The edges of the access terrace to the ground floor are conceived as bleacher seating and slides from the first floor encourage children to be active and adventurous. The new library is positioned adjacent to the extended hall forming an external learning space which can be used by the community with ready access from the main entry.

The JPPS library utilises prefabricated engineered timber beam construction which contributes to sustainable project outcomes and brings students improved learning facilities and spaces.

Artwork representing the meeting places around the school are reflected in the perforated metal screens which recall the traditions of weaving of the Darug people and the nearby Ponds Creek.

Connecting with Country

Consultation at the school was undertaken to develop thoughtful, considered and appropriate design responses that informed the design of the school buildings and landscaped areas. This provided a sense of cultural continuity to the school located in a relatively new suburb, with however, strong indigenous links.

SINSW Design Standardisation

At John Palmer PS the built form utilised the School Infrastructure (SINSW) DfMA planning grid in the E-W wing and a single-sided modification of the grid in the N-S wing. The “knuckle’ of the two wings contains the lift, enclosed stair, comms room, cleaners room and student and staff amenities with breezeway connections. The access balconies face the games court and at ground level, there are external learning areas in the spaces between. At the western end of the E_W wing, there is a roof terrace as an upper level outdoor learning area.