Auckland Grammar School

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Auckland Grammar School
Motto Per Angusta Ad Augusta

Through narrows/difficulties (Lewis and Short Latin Dictionary) to hallowed heights[1]
Type State Single Sex Boys secondary (Year 9-13) with boarding facilities
Year established 1868
Address 87 Mountain Road,
Epsom, Auckland,
New Zealand
Coordinates 36°52′9″S 174°46′10″E / -36.86917, 174.76944
Headmaster John Morris
School roll 2483
Socio-economic decile (10 is highest) 10
Ministry of Education Institution no. 54
Website www.ags.school.nz
The school is built in 'Spanish Mission' style architecture.
The school is built in 'Spanish Mission' style architecture.

Auckland Grammar School is a boys-only state secondary school in Auckland, New Zealand. It teaches from years 9 to 13. The school also has a limited number of boarders, who live in a building adjacent to the school called Tibbs' House. It is one of the largest schools in New Zealand.

Contents

[edit] History

The school was created by the Auckland Grammar Appropriation Act 1868, but is predated by the school's charter given by Governor Sir George Grey's Trust Deed in 1850.[2]

Auckland Grammar School is the location of two Category I historic places under the Historic Places Act 1993 — the school's main block and a war memorial.[3][4][5] An obelisk in front of the school commemorates former students of the school who fought in various wars. The school's main block, built in 1916 in the "Spanish Mission" style, contains a hall for school assemblies, classrooms and offices, with a vaulted ceiling covering the centre of the building.

It 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.

The school's motto, "Per Angusta ad Augusta" (Through narrows/difficulties (Lewis and Short Latin Dictionary) to hallowed heights), is shared by some other grammar schools in Auckland. In recent times Auckland Grammar has used the translation Through difficulties to greatness (a much better translation).

Grammar Boys, a 60 minute documentary about the school, was shown on New Zealand television.[6]

[edit] Policies

[edit] Enrolment

Historically, the demand for places in the school has outstripped capacity, and entry was selective. The school was zoned at least since the 1960s. Now entry is 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.[2]

Auckland Grammar's 'voluntary' donation for each student was NZD$700 in 2005, NZD$740 in 2006, and NZD$810 for 2008 — approximately five times higher than the average.[7] The highest voluntary donations are requested by state integrated schools, reaching up to NZD$4,472,[8] but Auckland Grammar's request is the highest of any state (as opposed to state integrated) school.[7]

The school also accepts overseas students if they hold a legal student visa, which requires an annual fee of around NZD$20,000. The school had about 75 international students, including Korean, Japanese, Taiwanese and German students in 2007.

[edit] NCEA controversy

The current headmaster, John Morris, is a vocal critic of the NCEA. In response to what it perceived by the school 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 its more talented students. Other students sit NCEA exams. Students placed in an IGCSE/AS/A2 class are allowed to switch to NCEA, but this is usually discouraged by the school. However in the ensuing years the majority of students were encouraged to take part in CIE qualifications as the school opines they are more internationally recognised than NCEA, even though NCEA can be recognised at most universities around the world. The ongoing introduction of the controversial New Zealand Scholarship has been viewed sceptically by the school, and it encourages only the top students to attempt it. Despite this, the school had the highest number of scholarships of any school in New Zealand in 2006.[9]

[edit] Architecture

In addition to its original or "main" building Auckland Grammar School has in recent years added several new structures. These include a new gymnasium which contains several full size basketball courts. Most recently a sports pavilion was completed on its upper field to house events and sports teams.

[edit] Sister schools

[edit] Notable alumni

The school shortly after opening, late 1910s.
The school shortly after opening, late 1910s.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Augusta Fellowship.
  2. ^ a b Auckland Grammar School (----). Enrolment (English). Auckland Grammar School. Retrieved on 2006-07-02.
  3. ^ Auckland Grammar School (Main Block) (English). Register of Historic Places. New Zealand Historic Places Trust (----). Retrieved on 2006-07-02.
  4. ^ War Memorial, Auckland Grammar School (English). Register of Historic Places. New Zealand Historic Places Trust (----). Retrieved on 2006-07-02.
  5. ^ Auckland Grammar School (----). School Campus (English). Auckland Grammar School. Retrieved on 2006-07-02.
  6. ^ Programme Catalogue (English). New Zealand On Air (----). Retrieved on 2006-07-02.
  7. ^ a b Dye, Stuart; Gillespie, Kiri. "School fee burdens parents", New Zealand Herald, 2005-01-31. Retrieved on 2006-07-02. 
  8. ^ Page, Emma. "State schools charge $5000 fees", Sunday Star Times, 2006-02-12. Retrieved on 2006-02-15. 
  9. ^ Grammar School, Auckland (2006-05-07). NCEA Scholarship Results 2006. Auckland Grammar School. Retrieved on 2007-07-05.

[edit] External links