Northcote Primary School Classroom Acoustics

Northcote Primary School in Melbourne faced a common challenge in modern classrooms—excessive noise and echo caused by hard surfaces and high ceilings. This created an environment where students struggled to focus and teachers had difficulty being heard without raising their voices.

How Classroom Noise Affects Learning

Noise in classrooms can come from many sources: outside traffic, hallway activity, and student movement. In spaces with hard floors, large windows, and high ceilings, sound reflects and bounces, creating echoes that interfere with communication. For students with hearing impairments or learning difficulties, these acoustic conditions can be particularly disruptive.

Site Limitations and Design Constraints

The room had limited wall space available for treatment, ruling out traditional wall-mounted panels. The teaching staff needed a solution that would reduce reverberation without taking up usable classroom space or disrupting the visual layout of the room.

Ceiling Clouds for Echo Control

The ideal solution was to install Sonofonic Acoustic Ceiling Clouds. These suspended panels hang from the ceiling to absorb sound overhead—where echoes are often strongest in tall classrooms. The result is a quieter, more focused learning environment that benefits all students and supports clearer communication from teachers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was noise such an issue at Northcote Primary?
The classrooms had high ceilings, hard floors, and large windows that amplified sound and created echo.

Why weren’t wall panels used?
There was limited wall space due to windows, whiteboards, and shelving, so ceiling-mounted panels were preferred.

What type of panel was used?
Sonofonic Acoustic Ceiling Clouds were installed to absorb sound from above without impacting floor or wall space.

Did the ceiling clouds change the classroom’s look?
No—they were designed to blend in, offering a subtle and modern acoustic solution.

Are ceiling clouds suitable for other schools?
Yes, especially in classrooms with high ceilings or limited wall space for treatment.

Need to Reduce Classroom Noise?

Sontext can help with tailored acoustic solutions for schools, kindergartens, and learning spaces. Contact us today or call +61 3 9432 2733 to discuss your needs.