Reimagining school infrastructure for modern needs
IN Partnership with
Fleetwood Australia is helping school leaders sidestep outdated stopgaps with smarter, modular builds – designed to deliver permanent infrastructure that’s fast, flexible and built with care for students, staff and communities
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IN 2024, a record 4,132,006 students were enrolled across 9,653 schools in Australia, marking a 1.1% rise from the previous year – and signalling that growth is showing no signs of slowing. However, while student numbers surge, new school builds are struggling to keep up. Between 2019 and 2023, an average of just 19 new schools opened each year – well short of the estimated 32 a year needed to meet demand.
The cracks are already starting to show. According to a 2024 survey by the Australian Education Union, 40% of principals expect space shortages within the next three to five years, with an additional 12,503 classrooms needed nationwide just to keep pace.
It raises a pressing question: how long can an already-stretched system continue to absorb the pressure without significant investment?
Without urgent action, experts warn that the shortfall could widen even further – putting students, teachers and school communities under even greater strain.
Fleetwood Australia is a leading provider of modular building, community and recreational vehicle (RV) solutions, serving urban, regional and remote areas across Australia and New Zealand. Established in 1964, the company has evolved from a caravan business into an industry leader in offsite construction, delivering projects up to 50% faster than traditional methods. Fleetwood operates through three key divisions: Building Solutions, Community Solutions and RV Solutions, including brands like Camec and Northern RV. With a commitment to innovation and sustainability, Fleetwood offers turnkey services – from design to installation – across sectors such as education, health, mining and affordable housing.
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“In just three days, we delivered four buildings, including eight classrooms, and the students only missed one day of school. It’s an extreme example, but it really brings to life the power of modular construction”
Company spokesperson, Fleetwood
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Ambitious plans clash with harsh realities
Published 19 May 2025
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“Because of the factory process, there’s no such thing as a rainy day shutting down a construction site, and production is more efficient because it works like an assembly line”
Company spokesperson, Fleetwood
Despite ambitious building plans announced across government, Catholic and independent school sectors, escalating costs, labour shortages and tight budgets are putting the brakes on progress. Leaders are now facing a difficult balancing act – delivering high-quality, future-proof schools quickly and cost-effectively, while minimising disruption to existing students, staff and communities.
In this challenging environment, modular construction – also known as prefabrication –is emerging as a game changer. Unlike traditional
Fleetwood modular construction a game changer for schools
construction, modular builds see classrooms and entire school blocks manufactured offsite before being transported and assembled on location. While common internationally, Australia has been slow to embrace modular solutions, often hampered by outdated perceptions of ‘demountables’ – a term that still conjures up memories of poky, uncomfortable temporary classrooms of decades past.
But today’s modular classrooms are a far cry from their predecessors. Modern modular schools are architecturally designed, sustainable and built to the same codes and quality standards as permanent structures, offering students and teachers vibrant, flexible learning environments that are indistinguishable from traditional builds.
Modular construction sets a new standard
One of the pioneers leading this quiet revolution is Fleetwood Australia, a listed company with more than 60 years of experience in modular construction. Fleetwood has delivered modular solutions across a range of sectors but has developed particular expertise in education – building state-of-the-art schools that are not only fit for purpose but also delivered in a fraction of the time needed for traditional builds.
A spokesperson for Fleetwood emphasises that modular construction is rapidly becoming a critical solution to meeting the infrastructure demands faced by Australia’s fast-growing schools, without compromising on build quality.
“Because of the factory process, there’s no such thing as a rainy day shutting down a construction site, and production is more efficient because it works like an assembly line,” the spokesperson says. “For these reasons, modular construction can be up to three times faster than traditional construction.”
Unlike traditional construction projects, which are vulnerable to weather delays and other external risks, modular projects benefit from the consistency and efficiency of a controlled factory environment. This method allows for a level of precision and speed that site-built projects often struggle to match. As a result, students and staff experience far fewer interruptions, and project delivery timelines are significantly compressed.
The success stories reshaping Australia’s education spaces
The spokesperson points to several recent projects that demonstrate how modern modular construction has rewritten the rulebook when it comes to building schools efficiently without sacrificing the design, quality or durability needed for long-term use.
“We recently built an award-winning two-storey facility that joins with an existing science building for Our Lady’s Primary School in Melbourne, providing eight contemporary learning areas, breakout areas, decking, stairs, lift and accessible amenities.
“Looking at the quality of the facility, I think anyone would be hard-pressed to distinguish it from a high-end traditionally built school,” the spokesperson says.
Fleetwood managed every element of the project, from the demolition of the existing infrastructure to the detailed fit-out of new learning spaces, ensuring a seamless experience for the school community. The project’s success showcases how modular builds can achieve outstanding architectural outcomes while meeting the growing pressure on schools to deliver facilities within tight deadlines.
Another recent project completed by Fleetwood involved the delivery of a new double-storey learning hub for Fairfield Primary School in Victoria, replacing an outdated building that had long struggled to meet the needs of modern learners.
The project included a lift well, administrative spaces for grade five and six students, and extensive outdoor decking designed to blend the new facilities seamlessly with the school’s existing walkways and play areas.
“Despite building quickly, the school has in no way compromised on quality,” the spokesperson says. “The result is extremely contemporary and functional and something everyone at Fairfield Primary can be proud of for years to come.”
These successes are a testament to the evolution of modular construction, which is increasingly recognised not just as a fast and efficient solution but as a genuine alternative to traditional builds, capable of delivering award-winning educational spaces.
While Fleetwood has collected accolades for these projects, the spokesperson says the company takes the greatest pride in delivering facilities that have a real and lasting impact on school communities – especially in times of crisis.
This was never more evident than in 2019 when a devastating bushfire tore through Upper Mount Gravatt State School in Queensland, destroying eight classrooms and leaving hundreds of students without learning spaces. Fleetwood, working in collaboration with the local community, businesses and the Queensland Department of Education, mobilised rapidly to design, deliver and install critical new facilities.
“In just three days, we delivered four buildings, including eight classrooms, and the students only missed one day of school. It’s an extreme example, but it really brings to life the power of modular construction. It was a project everyone at Fleetwood is proud of and will remember forever.”
This project remains a powerful reminder of the agility and reliability modular construction can offer – not only delivering modern, beautiful schools but restoring hope and continuity for communities when they need it most.
To find out more about how Fleetwood Australia can build a modern modular building for your school, visit www.fleetwood.com.au.
Fleetwood Australia: Quick facts
Offers turnkey or custom builds
Has the largest modular manufacturing capability in the country
Employs over 600 staff across Australia
Operates 7 factories nationwide
Upper Mount Gravatt State School
Fairfield Primary School – Education Projects
Our Lady Catholic Primary School
Fleetwood managed every element of the project, from the demolition of the existing infrastructure to the detailed fit-out of new learning spaces, ensuring a seamless experience for the school community. The project’s success showcases how modular builds can achieve outstanding architectural outcomes while meeting the growing pressure on schools to deliver facilities within tight deadlines.
Another recent project completed by Fleetwood involved the delivery of a new double-storey learning hub for Fairfield Primary School in Victoria, replacing an outdated building that had long struggled to meet the needs of modern learners. The project included a lift well, administrative spaces for grade five and six students, and extensive outdoor decking designed to blend the new facilities seamlessly with the school’s existing walkways and play areas.