Government to stop building open-plan classrooms in schools

Wednesday 16 July 2025 · 6 outlets · 8 reports · updated Wed 16 Jul 2025, 6:08pm

In this story Erica Stanford, Ministry of Education, John Key

Education Minister Erica Stanford has announced that the government will end the construction of open-plan classrooms. Following feedback from the sector, new classrooms will instead use a flexible design to address challenges regarding noise, student behaviour, and reduced flexibility.

How they headlined it

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1. StuffWed 16 Jul 2025, 12:30pm

   Government scraps open-plan classrooms (opens in new tab)

   • So what's so bad about open-plan classrooms? (opens in new tab) Wed 16 Jul 2025, 6:00pm
2. 1NewsWed 16 Jul 2025, 12:30pm

   No more open-plan school classrooms to be built - Govt (opens in new tab)

3. RNZWed 16 Jul 2025, 12:52pm

   Watch: Minister Erica Stanford makes education announcement (opens in new tab)

   • Government shuts the door on open-plan classrooms (opens in new tab) Wed 16 Jul 2025, 6:08pm
4. Otago Daily TimesWed 16 Jul 2025, 12:56pm

   Govt pulls pin on open-plan classrooms in schools (opens in new tab)

5. The Press via The PostWed 16 Jul 2025, 12:58pm

   Once hailed the classroom of the future, open-plan learning now being scrapped (opens in new tab)

6. NZ HeraldWed 16 Jul 2025, 2:09pm

   Education Minister Erica Stanford says Government ditching open-plan classrooms (opens in new tab)