Page 42 - Education August 2024

Purpose-built campuses:

Broadacres Academy

t is a great privilege to be able to build a to prevent flooding during heavy rainfall, but serves the needs of children in “The Age
new school. Naturally, many headaches serving as wetlands or deserts depending of Adventure,” who are free to explore
Iare involved, too, not least of which is on the time of year. No space has remained natural vegetation in a forest and enjoy the
contending with rising building costs, steel neglected or unused, mainly because the organic slope of the land where natural
industry strikes and heavy rains, which cause campus has become encircled by the rapidly grassland has not been removed, and
havoc with meeting school opening deadlines! developing area of Broadacres. existing rocks are incorporated into play
However, all told, the privilege outweighs the spaces. The school is situated within an
headaches when it all comes together; when Of necessity, the high school campus was ecologically sensitive area protected under
the budget is met, the school opens its doors. built to be ready for occupation in 2022 for the National Environmental Management
The children discover that the building and students from Grades 7 – 12 (Matric in 2025). Biodiversity Act, and we are happy to
surrounds have been purpose-built for their This campus is in Chartwell, some honour this and use it to teach children
specific maturational age. With the latter in 3 km away from the Junior Preparatory and how to live within thirty-two metres of
mind, Broadacres Academy embarked upon Preschool in Broadacres. Again, as a new a watercourse, respect biodiversity and
an enormous undertaking – a project eight build, it could be purposed for children work within indigenous vegetation. Having
years in the making. entering “The Age of Becoming.” It has a to meet the budget meant that we could
more college, university or tertiary feel, not rip up grasslands that have been in
The Syringa Road campus originated in the preparing students for the world of work place for centuries to build sports fields
“Broadacres Farm and Nursery School” some and adulthood. Still filled with space and and tennis courts. However, it also meant
40 years ago. The present site now serves the light, there is a connectedness to the that we could honour the ideals of a
needs of children aged six months to Grade Syringa Campus. Again, the necessity of an conservancy. Most importantly, it means
3. Remembering the school’s origins, which attenuation pond has been incorporated into that Broadacres Academy can honour its
was completely rebuilt in 2016, is vital. It was the design to link and unite the separated “Learning Naturally” motto.
also important to meet the needs of children campuses and function as an outdoor
who experience “The Age of Wonder.” The learning space. Situated near the beautiful Our children love their three campuses.
preschool, therefore, still has the remnants canteen, students can sit and eat their lunch Some parents may prefer to drop off at a
of farm animals in bunnies and birds, and the overlooking a wetland in the rainy season, one-stop school for convenience’s sake,
children still delight in naming them, watching watch weavers and water birds build nests but our children much prefer to enjoy their
eggs being laid and hatched, and being able and flourish in an environment harmonising own spaces built for wonder, adventure
to feed the bunnies. The architecture retains within a busy school. and becoming – a true privilege indeed!
the farmhouse feel – a barn-style door is
the entrance to our hall, the walls are made The final stage of the campus development
of natural rock, and our fencing includes project saw the opening of the Senior
corrugated iron intended to emulate kraals Preparatory campus across the road from
and paddocks. The classrooms are filled with the High School in Chartwell. This campus
light and spaces which open onto outdoor opened in time for Term 2 in May of this year.
water troughs (our washbasins)! Here, the It came in on time and on budget, not least
children are free to explore open spaces, of all because much of the beautiful property
including an attenuation pond, designed to was left to wild, as befits a school situated www.broadacres.com
temporarily hold and gradually release water within the greater Chartwell Conservancy. It

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