Open-plan classrooms: A failed experiment or still the future of learning?

Journalist·Bay of Plenty Times·4 Sep, 2026 06:02 PM5 mins to read‌Pāpāmoa College principal Iva Ropati says the school’s open‑plan design was “an experiment that went terribly wrong”.For some schools, open-plan classrooms were an experiment that failed. For others, they’re still the future.In August, the Government announced a further $31.3 million to help nearly 90 schools create calmer, less disruptive learning spaces by modifying existing open-plan classrooms. Open-plan classrooms, also known as modern or flexible