| Papanui High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| 30 Langdons Road, Papanui, Christchurch, New Zealand |
|
| Information | |
| Type | State Co-educational Secondary (Year 9-13) |
| Motto | In Opere Felicitas "Be happy in your work" |
| Established | 1936 |
| Ministry of Education Institution no. | 316 |
| Principal | Jeff Smith |
| School roll | 1600 |
| Socio-economic decile | 6 |
| Website | papanui.school.nz |
Papanui High School (PHS) is a secondary school (years 9-13) in Papanui, a suburb of Christchurch city, New Zealand.
Papanui High School is a coeducational secondary school, located between Northlands Mall and Firestone tyre factory, opposite the Christchurch Sanitarium Health Food Company factory. The school was founded as Papanui Technical College in 1936, but became a 'High School' in 1949.[1] Only recently have older members of the public completely stopped referring to the school as Papanui Technical College.
The current Principal is Jeff Lionel Montgomery Smith, an ex New Zealand Navy serviceman and brother of Conrad Smith,a prominent New Zealand rugby player. He took over the roll in 2011 from Denis Pyatt, a linguist, who succeeded Ms. M Scott who left in 2000. Under Mr Pyatt's stewardship, the school's profile rose significantly in the community. In the past the school had performed poorly in many academic areas, with passing rates for the NZQA National Certificate of Educational Achievement and University Entrance being below average. However grades rose significantly and NCEA results are now above the national average at Level 1. In 2006 66% of Year 11 students gained NCEA Level 1. That figure has since risen to 70% in 2007 and 75% in 2008. NCEA performance in Level 2 has also reached the national average.[2] A relatively wide selection of subjects with varying degrees of difficulty also encourages success.
There is a strong sense of 'multiculturalism,' advocated by Mr Pyatt, which has seen strengthening Asian, Maori and Island cultures within the school community. Cultural significance in Papanui High School also extends to the performing arts, with a team winning the Subway 2007 Stage Challenge in Christchurch. A long line of successful plays and productions in Papanui's history also mark this cultural vibrance. In 2009 the New Zealand Education Review office came to the school and recommened Papanui High School be shown as an examplar of how a school should be run. E.R.O was so impressed that it would only coming back to Papanui in 5 years rather than its normal 3 years.
The school succeeds in a number of sports particularly in cricket, touch, and netball. In 2007 both the girls and boys Senior Touch teams qualified for the national championship. Papanui High School student Jarrod Benjamin Starink was a stand out player, who received the M.V.P award at the 2010 national touch championship.
The school has also done well in the IYPT National Physics Fight final held in Wellington gaining 3rd place out of many other schools in the country.
In 2009 the School won the Junior Press Debating Competition.
In 2010 Papanui High-School won the Mclean's Island Hand Loaders Club Inter-school Skeet Shooting Competition against St Bedes College.