ORMISTON College has officially reopened its newly rebuilt Centre for Learning and Innovation, marking a major milestone after an arson attack in July 2024 caused significant damage and disruption to the school community.
The reopening was formally marked by Minister for Education and the Arts John-Paul Langbroek, who attended a special ceremony at the school on January 30, joined by special guests, students and staff.
The rebuilding project took approximately 18 months to complete, with a range of interim measures put in place to minimise disruption to students.
These included a temporary canteen and library, as well as the relocation of classes while reconstruction was underway.
Throughout the process, the college worked closely with contractors, using the challenge as an opportunity to make meaningful improvements to the facility.
Key enhancements to the Centre for Learning and Innovation include specialist technology classrooms enabling the expansion of subject offerings to include Engineering, a Literacy Lab focused on core essential skills, and additional
collaborative spaces designed to support teamwork and self-regulated individual study.
The rebuild also incorporates environmentally responsible and recycled materials, including furniture and acoustic boards.
“The Centre for Learning and Innovation was a place of connection – a space where students learned, collaborated, and grew. It forms the heart of our campus, and we are deeply grateful to have access to it once again,” Headmaster Michael Hornby said. “We appreciate the generous support offered by local schools and businesses at the time of the fire and the collective contributions of all the contractors involved in the rebuild.”
The Centre for Learning and Innovation brings together library, academic, social, archival and technological services, creating a central hub that connects expertise and supports engagement across students, teachers and the wider school community.
