| Christchurch Boys' High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Straven Road, Riccarton, Christchurch |
|
| Information | |
| Type | State Single sex boys secondary (Year 9-13) with boarding facilities |
| Motto | Latin: Altiora Peto "I Seek Higher Things" |
| Established | 18 May 1881 |
| Ministry of Education Institution no. | 327 |
| Principal | Trevor McIntyre |
| School roll | 1380 |
| Socio-economic decile | 9[1] |
| Website | cbhs.school.nz |
Christchurch Boys' High School is a single sex state secondary school in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is situated on a 12 hectare site between the suburbs of Riccarton and Fendalton, 4 kilometres to the west of central Christchurch. The school also provides boarding facilities for 130 boys, in a newly refurbished residence called Adams House, located about 500 metres to the east. The schools colours are deep blue and black with an occasional flash of gold.
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Established in 1881, the prime purpose of Christchurch Boys' High School was to prepare students for enrolment into the then newly formed Canterbury College, now known as the University of Canterbury.[2] Consequently, it was initially co-located with the College in downtown Christchurch, at the site of the modern-day Christchurch Arts Centre. As the university and school expanded, the school moved to its present location on Straven Road in 1926.[3] The school's present site was originally a farm owned by Canterbury’s pioneer settlers, the Deans, and several buildings from the Deans' farm still stand on the grounds.
Christchurch Boys' High School has a rich sporting and academic history and boasts many traditions. The school has produced many All Blacks, with only Auckland Grammar having produced more. The school can also lay claim to several famous cricketers. There is a unique ANZAC Day service each year that is compulsory for new students of the school to attend to commemorate the hundreds of Old Boys' that fought and died in the two World Wars. The school song 'Altiora Peto' has a third verse that is only heard on this day. In 2004 CBHS provided 2 of New Zealands 'top scholars', one of only 3 schools to do so with the other two both being girls-only schools in the Auckland region.[4]
Of note is the fierce rivalry Boys' High has with Christ's College, Canterbury and the annual Christ's College / Boys' High rugby match is a major event in any calendar year. This rivalry harks back over a hundred years to when the schools were not only the first two all male schools to be founded in Canterbury, but also conveniently situated within 100 metres of each other.
Of late, the school's cultural activities have gained some prominence, in particular its dramatic and musical productions[5] where it often joins forces with its sister school, Christchurch Girls' High School.
Christchurch Boys' High has one of the richest sporting alumni of any school in New Zealand, having produced the Hadlee brothers (cricket) and numerous All Black rugby footballers (42 in total) who have gone on to represent New Zealand with great distinction.