Ashburton College

Ashburton College
Location
Walnut Avenue,
Ashburton,
New Zealand

Information
Type State, Co-educational, Secondary, years 9-13
Motto "Individual Excellence in a Supportive Learning Environment"[2]
Ministry of Education Institution no. 351
Principal Grant McMillan[1]
School roll 1,200
Socio-economic decile 7
Website

Ashburton College is a decile 7 school in Ashburton, New Zealand, catering for years 9-13. Ashburton College has a roll of approximately 1200 students and 135 staff, including 87 full-time and part-time teachers. The most recent ERO report was in 2007. (Education Review Office).

International Students The College accepts a small number of international students each year through both student exchanges and as direct enrolments.

Contents

Critical praise

Deputy principal Scott Haines was awarded the NEiTA Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Award in 2008.[3] Mr Haines is now the Principal of Motueka High School, a position he began in Term 4 2009

In 2008, The Education Review Office ranked the school the top in the country for the promotion of male's learning.[4]

Statistics from the 2008 NCEA results ranked the school fifth in performance out of the 19 decile seven to nine schools.[5]

Ashburton College in the Media

Media Coverage. Given Ashburton College's status as the much larger of two secondary schools in Mid Canterbury and the only secondary school based in Ashburton (Mount Hutt College is in Methven) the local daily newspaper, The Ashburton Guardian, provides a lot of coverage of the College's activities.

NCEA Statistics. In response to the school ranking fifth on the NCEA statistics tables out of similarly ranked schools, deputy principal Chris Buckland (while in his capacity as acting principal) acknowledged the college's success rates but also advised against over-reliance on NCEA statistics, saying they should be taken with a "grain of salt". He stated such statistics could be misleading as in a very small school it only takes a few students to significantly affect overall percentages.[5]

Notable alumni

Ashburton Astronomy Group Observatory

Ashburton Astronomy Group Observatory
Location Ashburton College, Canterbury, New Zealand
Website
www.ashburton.co.nz/astronomy

The Ashburton Astronomy Group Observatory is situated in the grounds of Ashburton College. The building and equipment is owned by the college but administered and maintained by the AAG.

The primary instrument in use is a 130-year-old equatorially mounted 230mm With-Browning newtonian reflector telescope. The observatory is of the roll-off-roof variety.

References