Wellington school to undergo major $9 million redevelopment

Wellington's Thorndon School is line to receive a $9 million makeover, the Ministry of Education announced.

Thorndon is one of the country's oldest schools, first opening in 1852. The redevelopment will include new teaching and administration locks, as well as the refurbishing of an existing building to turn it into a new library and resource centre.

The new teaching blocks will be designed to be flexible to contribute to an innovative learning environment, the Ministry says.

The teaching block will comprise of 13 learning spaces, replacing the school's 11 existing classrooms, and provide two extra learning spaces to accommodate the growth in the number of students at the school.

According to the Ministry, Thorndon School occupies a small, compact site, so the new buildings will be configured to ensure there is enough outdoor learning and play space, and enhance access-ways to and through the school grounds.

The Ministry says construction will happen in two phases, with a temporary village of classrooms situated on the neighbouring Wellington Girls' College site while redevelopment work is underway. The school has already moved into this space.

Construction will begin in late 2016 as  is expected to take approximately 15 months to complete.

Almost $100 million of school redevelopments have been announced in the Wellington area since last November.