The Big Build Off 

9 RISE: The Big Build-Off – Design Sprint Success

What an incredible day of innovation, creativity and critical thinking we witnessed during our recent Year 9 RISE Design Sprint. Over the course of the sprint, students took on the role of architects and designers, working through a fast-paced design thinking process to reimagine the future of our school. Their challenge was to identify a genuine need within the school community and design a new building that would meaningfully respond to it.

What stood out most was how deeply students connected their designs to their real experiences. Every proposal was grounded in what matters most to them and supported by thoughtful reasoning and personal insight. The winning design was an activity building, designed to give students space to run clubs, collaborate, and pursue their passions beyond the classroom — a powerful reflection of student voice and agency.  The runner-up proposed  a dedicated Humanities building, complete with its own specialised resource library, creating a rich, immersive learning environment for students. The runner-up proposed an activity building, designed to give students space to run clubs, collaborate, and pursue their passions beyond the classroom — a powerful reflection of student voice and agency.

Across all designs, there was a consistent and impressive focus on sustainability; accessibility and inclusivity; and student wellbeing. Students demonstrated a clear understanding that great design is not just about how a space looks, but how it supports people.

The final pitches were delivered with confidence, creativity, and flair, showcasing not only strong ideas, but the ability to communicate and justify them effectively. It was evident that this creativity had been embedded throughout the entire process — from initial ideas through to final presentation.

We congratulate all students involved on their extraordinary efforts. Their ability to think critically, solve complex problems, and design with empathy and purpose is a powerful reminder that our future is indeed in safe hands.

Well done to all…we can’t wait to see where your ideas take you next.