Public School parents speak out over learning pod class layouts, students ‘taught on the floor’

Sydney parents are taking aim at ‘learning pod’ teaching layouts at local schools, saying students are being crammed into classrooms and left to sit on the floor. Have your say in our poll.

A photo depicting the open plan learning environment. Picture: Department of Education.

Parents of one of northwest Sydney’s fastest growing schools have blamed open plan ‘learning pods’ for an increase in school disruption among students – but the school’s principal has defended the teaching model.

Results of a new survey of parents conducted by the P&C committee of Schofields Public School have put into question the purported benefits of ‘learning pod’ classroom layouts due to concerns the model is negatively impacting the academic outcomes of students.

The learning-pod layout involves multiple classes – each with their own teacher – taught in a single learning area.

Instead of traditional classroom layouts of students shuttling into rows of tables facing a teacher and a blackboard, the learning pod layout can have up to 90 students with three teachers in the same learning environment.

At Schofields Public School, 24 classes are taught in the pod environment, involving students from Years 2 through to 6.

Learning pods are used at Schofields Public School.

Parents of the primary school say the learning pod environment can lead to high levels of disturbance and can make it harder for some students to concentrate.

“Having three plus classes in one open style learning area has increased the level of noise in the pods compared with traditional classrooms,” the parent survey stated.

Learning pods typically have flexible furniture.

“It takes longer for 90-plus students to settle and be quiet rather than a class of 30-odd students (and) when a student is disruptive it now affects 90-plus students instead of 30.

“For some students being in a class this size is incredibly overwhelming which again impacts on their learning.”

Parents also claimed teachers can struggle to deliver high quality education in the open-plan learning environment.

“Some of the pods appear overcrowded which again affects student comfort which impacts learning outcomes,” the feedback states.

A photo depicting learning pods.

“In practice we are seeing a real divide between the theory and practical application of how schools are using the pods – our experience shows up to 120 students plus staff are being crammed into the space of one normal classroom together.

“It is easier for students to fall through the cracks in this style of classroom (and) in order to get quality learning in this format, a higher student teacher ratio is required.”

There are additional concerns the pods are also not always furnished with enough tables and chairs – meaning some students have to conduct their classwork “on the floor”.

“Students are complaining of sore backs and being uncomfortable after long periods of time on the floor – this is affecting their ability to concentrate and resulted in reduced learning outcomes,” the parent feedback states.

David England, the relieving principal at Schofields Public School, has defended the learning model.

“The classrooms at Schofields Public School are designed for collaborative learning (and) each class has its own teacher and staffing ratios are the same as in other classrooms,” he said.

A Department of Education spokesman said all classes at Schofields Public have a teacher to student ratio as per department ratios – meaning a class of 90 students would have three teachers.

“Our teachers are highly trained professionals and more than capable of providing consistency in classroom management when co-teaching,” the spokesman said. “When delivering new and upgraded schools we draw on expert advice and consult with the school community.”   

The learning pod layouts are used by various other schools in NSW including Kellyville High School, Darcy Road Public School and Harbord Public School.

Learning pods are also used at Harbord Public School on the northern beaches.

A review of the model by Harbord Public School – published by the Department of Education last year – recognised many parents had been sceptical at the model at first, however saw benefits of the learning pod layout once it was in practice.

“A concern for some parents was having two teachers and 50-plus students in one shared learning space. They were not sure how their child was going to cope with having two teachers and were concerned how they would know whom to go to for assistance,” the review states.

“However, as the year progressed and on reflection at the end of the school year, all parents agreed that their child having two teachers and being in this new learning environment was a positive one. Parents acknowledged that having two teachers with different teaching styles and interests added to their child’s educational experience.”

Henry Rajendra of the Teachers Federation labelled learning pods a “fad”.

Henry Rajendra – the deputy president of the NSW Teachers Federation – labelled the model a “fad”.

“The notion of these spaces being flexible could not be further than the truth – it’s inflexible because in some of the spaces you cannot put into dividing walls, so you have four classes in one massive area and in some cases English and drama being taught next to each other,” he said.

“For teachers involved, they’ve reported significant disruption to their own delivery of lessons. Sometimes teachers are also having to lead more than one class in that environment because of teacher shortages.”

A 2022 parliamentary inquiry into the delivery of school infrastructure in NSW was critical of the open plan layout, with the inquiry finding: “Open plan, flexible learning spaces struggle to foster student concentration and are particularly detrimental for hearing-impaired students”.

It is understood the learning pod model was introduced at the 957-pupil Schofields Public School campus in 2020.

The concerns by teachers over learning pods will be discussed at the annual NSW Teachers Federation conference next week.