There’s been a quiet but noticeable shift inside one Calne primary school—less about what’s being taught, and more about how.
At Saint Edmund’s Catholic Primary School, two traditional classrooms have been knocked through and reworked into a single open-plan space, creating a very different environment for pupils and staff alike.
The changes, completed over the half-term break with backing from families and teachers, are already making themselves felt. Staff say the new layout has altered how children interact—not just with each other, but with the space around them.
Gone are the fixed boundaries of separate rooms. In their place is a more flexible setting where pupils can move between activities, collaborate more easily and take on larger, shared projects without the usual constraints.
The school, part of the Dunstan Catholic Educational Trust, sees the redesign as part of a broader approach to learning—one that puts as much emphasis on creativity and confidence as it does on core subjects.
Executive Headteacher Helen Biles-Wood says the impact has been immediate, with pupils showing greater engagement and a willingness to explore ideas in ways that weren’t possible before. There’s also been a noticeable lift in teamwork, helped along by a space that encourages group work rather than keeping it contained.
That sense of openness isn’t just for the school day. There are plans for the new classroom to support wider community use, offering a setting that can host activities beyond the usual timetable.
For CEO Helen Taylor, the project reflects a growing recognition that the design of a classroom can shape how children learn. It’s not simply about aesthetics; it’s about giving pupils the room—literally and figuratively—to develop skills that go beyond the basics.
At a time when schools are often judged on results alone, changes like this tend to fly under the radar. But for the pupils using the space day to day, the difference is likely to be more immediate: a classroom that feels less confined, and a bit more like a place where ideas can take shape.
