Auckland Grammar School

Auckland Grammar School is a boys-only state secondary school in Auckland, New Zealand. It teaches from Year 9 to Year 13. The school also has a limited number of boarders, who live in a building adjacent to the school. The 2006 roll was 2530 ^*, making it one of the largest schools in New Zealand.

History

The school was created by the Auckland Grammar School Appropriation Act 1868, but is predated by the school's charter given by Governor Sir George Grey's Deed of Endowment in 1850.

The school's motto, "Per Angusta ad Augusta" (Through rough ravines to hallowed heights) is shared by at least three other grammar schools in Auckland, Auckland Girls Grammar School, Mount Albert Grammar School and Takapuna Grammar School. In recent times Auckland Grammar has used Through difficulties to greatness as the translation of the latin motto.

Grounds

At the front of the school there is an obelisk standing on a plinth, to commemorate former students of the school who fought in various wars.

The main block of the School was built in 1916 in the "Spanish Mission" style. The main feature of this building is the hall, where assemblies are held on most ordinary school days. The has a vaulted ceiling covering the central "court" of the building. The building also contains classrooms, offices for staff, and the staff lounge.

Both the obelisk and the main block are classified as Category I historic places, under the Historic Places Act 1993.

Tibbs House (the sole boarding facility) is a large colonial-style building.

Auckland Grammar also has the generic buildings found at other state secondary schools.

Auckland Grammar School owns a facility called VentureLodge on the outskirts of the township of Ohakune in the central North Island which is used by students for camps.

Enrolment

Historically, the demand for places in the school has outstripped capacity. Formerly entry was determined by examination, scholarship or by a family connection (father/grandfather's attendance). Entry is now determined by a state school enrolment scheme. The school argues that zoning increases house prices in the zone, reducing access to the school for students from lower socioeconomic groups.

Auckland Grammar's 'voluntary' donation for each student was NZD$700 in 2005 and NZD$740 in 2006—approximately five times higher than the average. The highest voluntary donations are requested by state integrated schools, reaching up to NZD$4,472, but Auckland Grammar's request is the highest of any state (as opposed to state integrated) school.

TV film

Grammar Boys, a 60 minute documentary about the school was shown on New Zealand television.

Curriculum

New entrants (Year 9) sit aptitude tests in a way that is not overly dependent on the quality of their teaching at previous schools. Year 9 students study the conventional subjects, however the top half of the year group also studies Latin plus a modern language. End-of-term exams affect streaming.

The current headmaster, John Morris, is a vocal critic of the NCEA. In response to what it perceived to be a poorly designed system being forced on them, the school introduced Cambridge International Examinations in 2002, offering the IGCSE, AS Level and A2 examinations to their more talented students. Other students sit NCEA exams. Students placed in a IGCSE/AS/A2 class are allowed to switch to NCEA, but this is usually discouraged by the school.

The ongoing introduction of the controversial New Zealand Scholarship has been viewed skeptically by the school. Only the top students are encouraged to attempt it, but due to syllabus differences between NCEA and CIE in some subjects, some students find it a challenge.

Notable alumni

Charles Goldie, artist
Sir Edmund Hillary, explorer

Prof Vaughan Jones, Fields Medallist
Sir Hugh Kawharu, Maori scholar

Sir Leslie Munro, former President of the General Assembly of the United Nations

References

Educational institutions established in the 19th century | Secondary schools in New Zealand | Schools in Auckland