School's new 'footprint' as old classroom removed

Otumoetai School deputy principal Zara McIndoe shows off the school's new playground. Photo / Andrew Warner

The removal of Otumoetai Primary School's historic classroom has allowed the school to create two new classrooms and a challenge playground.

The 116-year-old classroom had to be removed from the Otumoetai Primary School site as the school needed two more classrooms to cater for an expanding roll. Under Ministry of Education rules, a school has to keep to a certain "footprint", or floor space, and with the old classroom on site, the school did not have enough available footprint for new classes.

Since the old classroom was removed in July last year, the school has expanded one block of classes to add an extra room, and has expanded its library to create another classroom.

The space where the old class used to sit has been converted to a challenge playground.

Deputy principal Zara McIndoe said the school's PTA did a lot of fundraising with the community to help pay for the new playground.

"We wanted it to be for all ages at the school, hence why we've got a junior area and a senior area.

"It's a real challenge area, so they are challenged physically. It can also be used as a circuit and used for fitness in school hours.

"It focuses on physical wellbeing and hauora."

Ms McIndoe said the playground was well-used by the community after school and on weekends.

It features obstacles created to challenge students, including rope stairs, hanging pommels, flying foxes, rope ladders and hanging obstacles.