Geraldton Flexible Learning Centre opens new building following years of planning

The new facility at Geraldton Flexible Learning Centre is set to enhance learning opportunities for its students, with the building opened at a ceremony last week. The new building includes an outdoor area for each classroom where kids can collaborate and engage in their work. Meanwhile, other equipment has been included within classrooms to enhance learning, including a large screen, kitchenette, and storeroom. Principal Lynette English said the facilities were an improvement. “In our previous place, we had no outdoor area, no class-specific prep area, and only had minimal IT support for classroom learning,” she said. “It’s beautifully presented. It’s modern, it’s fresh, and it provides an inspirational environment for learning to happen.” The move to a new facility at the former St Patrick’s College had been in the works for several years. Works began in 2023 and were completed earlier this year. According to the school, students who attend are those who weren’t able to engage with traditional schooling, and they have a curriculum designed for them. Ms English said the new facilities also included key areas where students had purpose-built spaces to learn. “We have a massive common room that is used for our morning and afternoon circles circles for our young people,” she said. “It’s also a great learning space, and we have a really lovely outdoor eating area that is being used on a daily basis.” A commercial kitchen to enable hospitality education has also been included. The intake of students at the school has grown from 65 in April to 101. The space was unveiled in a ceremony on Tuesday last week, where representatives from the Catholic Church, as well as Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton and Federal Durack Member Melissa Price, attended.