Auckland Grammar School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Auckland Grammar School | |
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| Motto | Per Angusta Ad Augusta
Through difficulties to greatness |
| Type | State Single Sex Boys secondary (Year 9-13) with boarding facilities |
| Year established | 1868 |
| Address | 87 Mountain Road, Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand |
| Principal | John Morris |
| School roll | 2530 |
| Socio-economic decile (10 is high) | 10 |
| Ministry of Education Institution no. | 54 |
| Website | www.ags.school.nz |
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 [1], making it one of the largest schools in New Zealand.
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[edit] About
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.[1]
Grammar Boys, a 60 minute documentary about the school was shown on New Zealand television.[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 rough ravines to hallowed heights) is shared by some other schools in Auckland. In recent times Auckland Grammar has used the translation Through difficulties to greatness.
[edit] Enrolment
Historically, the demand for places in the school has outstripped capacity, and entry was selective. 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.[1]
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.[6] The highest voluntary donations are requested by state integrated schools, reaching up to NZD$4,472,[7] but Auckland Grammar's request is the highest of any state (as opposed to state integrated) school.[6]
[edit] NCEA controversy
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 sceptically by the school, and it encourages only the top students to attempt it.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Hamish Carter (1971–), 2004 Summer Olympic gold medal (triathlon)
- Jeff Crowe (1958–), cricketer and ICC referee
- Martin Crowe (1962–), cricketer
- Russell Crowe (1964–), actor
- Sir Roger Douglas (1937–), former Finance Minister
- Sir Raymond Firth (1901–2002), social anthropologist
- Grant Fox (1962–), former All Black captain
- Charles Goldie (1870–1947), artist
- Sir Doug Graham (1942–), former Justice Minister
- Air Marshal Sir Kenneth Hayr (1935–2001), former UK Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff
- Graham Henry (1946–), All Black coach
- Sir Edmund Hillary (1919–), explorer
- Doug Howlett (1978–), international rugby union player
- Prof Vaughan Jones (1952–), Fields Medal winner
- Sir Hugh Kawharu (1927–2006), Māori scholar
- Sir Kenneth Keith (1937–), Judge on the International Court of Justice
- Sir George Laking, (1912–), diplomat and Chief Ombudsman
- Sir Leslie Munro (1901–1974), former President of the General Assembly of the United Nations
- Sir Wilson Whineray (1935–), former All Black captain and prominent businessman.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b Auckland Grammar School (----). Enrolment (English). Auckland Grammar School. Retrieved on 2006-07-02.
- ^ Programme Catalogue (English). New Zealand On Air (----). Retrieved on 2006-07-02.
- ^ Auckland Grammar School (Main Block) (English). Register of Historic Places. New Zealand Historic Places Trust (----). Retrieved on 2006-07-02.
- ^ War Memorial, Auckland Grammar School (English). Register of Historic Places. New Zealand Historic Places Trust (----). Retrieved on 2006-07-02.
- ^ Auckland Grammar School (----). School Campus (English). Auckland Grammar School. Retrieved on 2006-07-02.
- ^ a b Dye, Stuart, Gillespie, Kiri. "School fee burdens parents", New Zealand Herald, 2005-01-31. Retrieved on 2006-07-02.
- ^ Page, Emma. "State schools charge $5000 fees", Sunday Star Times, 2006-02-12. Retrieved on 2006-02-15.
