Suncoast Christian College unveils innovative new primary school campus

Suncoast Christian College in Woombye, Queensland has unveiled plans for its innovative new primary school campus, with key leaders attending a turning of the sod ceremony on Wednesday.

Designed by m3 Architecture, the campus features the most advanced school buildings on the Sunshine Coast. It has been designed specifically for a collaborative ‘team-teaching’ model that replaces traditional classrooms with flexible learning spaces.

The building will accommodate years 1 through 6, with the students split into three cohorts, each taught by a team of six teachers and teachers’ assistants in spaces with dedicated and adaptable learning zones over two levels.

A tiered seating area in each of these cohort zones will connect the two levels, allowing students to move between floors. Each cohort will have its own maker space and kitchen. An art room and performing arts space will service the whole primary school. The new building will be wrapped in a specially designed steel mesh, allowing air and natural light to stream through.

It will provide flexible and collaborative learning spaces where a team of dedicated Christian teachers will provide inquiry-based teaching to equip students for a future world where creativity, communication and critical thinking skills are essential.

The open teaching spaces will be zoned and furnished to allow for a variety of teaching modes, with different configurations for different stages of learning and  subjects. Teachers will be able to effectively and intuitively tailor lessons to the abilities and learning needs of individual students.

The school’s principal, Greg Mattiske, said team-teaching delivers the best social, emotional and academic outcomes for students. “Today’s students have diverse needs,” he said. “It’s too much for one teacher to have the burden of trying to meet all these needs on their own. Better outcomes for students can be achieved when we work as a team.”

The staff have been involved in the design process and it's been very much designed around the school’s vision for learning. “This project has gone way beyond our expectations,” said Mattiske. “I want children, staff and parents to come to the school and feel excited about this facility.”

Founded on reclaimed farming land in 1979 as the Suncoast Christian Academy, the school’s first building was an old pineapple packing shed. From such humble origins, down through generations bound by the mission of seeing students grow in their faith, character, and learning, the new campus will be a fitting affirmation of the school’s legacy and special character. 

“Such forethought about the campus, as a space designed to facilitate the highest educational outcomes, reinforces how Christian education should go hand in hand with academic excellence,” added Mattiske. “Students will have both a Christ-centred and world-class education.”

The school teaches more by stage than age, with learning based on a child’s level in each subject. The building has been designed to accommodate teams of teachers and teacher assistants working together with students in large, medium and small group configurations. The flexible nature of the facility means that spaces can accommodate groups of  five pupils up to 100.

The new campus is phase one of a 25-year master building plan. It envisages and allows for future capacity as the school looks to add an additional 100 students. There are currently two classrooms for each grade, and the aspiration is to increase that to three without changing the integrity and community focus of the school. 

Funding for the project will be provided through the College’s governing body, the International Network of Churches, bolstered by a modest contribution from the State government, ensuring the onus will not be on parents to shoulder any undue burden.
 

Suncoast Christian College is a Prep to Year 12 Christian co-educational College with Pre-Kindy and Kindergarten, located in Woombye on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Established in 1979, the College is known for its sense of community and true commitment to excellent Christian education for Sunshine Coast families. 

Every child’s educational journey is unique and Suncoast believes in guiding its students to achieving their personal best in an environment that values a love of learning. Students benefit from a team of dedicated Christian teachers who believe in developing academic potential and character with high-quality