Could a school’s logo hold the key to its heart? At Wesley Primary School, nestled in Auckland’s Mount Roskill, the answer is a resounding yes. Wesley Primary School sits between two maunga, Owairaka and Puketapapa. These mountains, symbolized in the school’s logo as a “W”, speak to the school’s connection to the land. The circular shape within the W represents Te Ao Māori, the Māori world. Inside this circle reside Te Ranginui, the Sky Father, and Papatūānuku, the Earth Mother. Their separation symbolizes the room given to children for growth, a sentiment echoed in the school’s motto, “Ki te Mārama,” meaning “towards enlightenment.” The logo of Wesley Primary School also depicts a fern frond unfurling and a child sheltered by whānau (family), representing the nurturing environment this small school provides. With only 162 pupils, Wesley Primary School fosters a strong sense of community where everyone knows each other.
Wesley Primary School opened its doors in 1951, serving students from Year 1 to 6. The school boasts a rich diversity, with learners primarily of Tongan, Samoan, Cook Island, and Māori descent, alongside smaller groups of refugees and children from other cultures. Wesley Primary School is dedicated to creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment. This commitment is evident in the collaborative approach taken during the school’s redesign. The redesign of Wesley Primary School wasn’t initially led by the Planning Learning Spaces in Practice (PLSiP) framework due to a handover from the previous principal to Lou Reddy in 2019. However, Reddy quickly realized the need to understand the school’s values. He conducted a survey in 2020 to identify key priorities for the new build. The feedback underscored the importance of community and strong relationships, highlighting how the school connected with families and students.
In 2021, Wesley Primary School formally adopted the PLSiP framework. This framework facilitated a shared understanding among staff, architects, and the Ministry of Education. It allowed everyone to effectively communicate and ensure the new design met the learners’ needs. A key aspect of this process was the appointment of a learning coach, Samantha Prendergast. She played a crucial role in staff engagement, particularly during the challenges posed by the 2021 COVID lockdowns. The PLSiP journey at Wesley Primary School is documented in Reddy’s blog from September 2021, where he reflects on the positive impact of understanding staff perspectives on learning. The PLSiP framework also encouraged teachers at Wesley Primary School to think innovatively. It gave them confidence to experiment with new teaching practices to support 21st-century learners. The framework highlighted the school’s journey and helped staff identify areas for improvement. The collaborative nature of the framework fostered a sense of ownership and buy-in among the teachers.
The school’s redesign culminated in a “Design Sprint Day” in 2022. Bringing together various stakeholders, including architects, builders, and the local Māori community (mana whenua), this day focused on translating the school’s values into tangible design concepts. The new building at Wesley Primary School, opened in 2022, replaced traditional classrooms with collaborative learning hubs. This hub model promotes collaborative teaching, peer support, and flexible use of space, creating a student-centered learning environment. The redesign also included adaptable furniture, flexible storage solutions, and dedicated spaces for outdoor learning, food technology, a makerspace, and breakout rooms. Wesley Primary School’s transformation highlights its commitment to community, cultural responsiveness, and modern learning environments. The school’s story, etched in its logo and lived out in its vibrant learning spaces, continues to evolve as it empowers its students toward enlightenment.