Takapuna Grammar School facts for kids

Takapuna Grammar School is a state coeducational secondary school located in the suburb of Belmont on the North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand. Established in 1927, the school mainly serves the eponymous suburb of Takapuna and the entire Devonport Peninsula. A total of 2008 students from Years 9 to 13 (ages 12 to 18) attend the school as of April 2023.

History

The foundation stone of Takapuna Grammar was laid on 6 April 1926 with the school opening officially in 1927. Takapuna Grammar School was the first co-educational school under the auspices of the Auckland Grammar Schools' Board, and established its own Board of Governors in 1955. The school retained the Auckland Grammar Lion and the motto "Per Angusta Ad Augusta" ("Through endeavour to greatness").

In 2012, the school controversially attempted to ban sandals in an attempt to improve public perception of the school. The decision was abandoned, however, after a group of students led by Abraham Coombs protested against the decision. The school subsequently surveyed students, parents, and teachers. The results of the poll (89% in opposition to the contentious decision) led to reinstatement of sandals in 2013.

In mid-2015 the school introduced a fortnightly vertical form class of around 15 students, where students were expected to engage with each other across year levels and help each other with their study. The move was controversial among students, however, as they saw it as leading to full-time vertical form classes and eventual abolition of horizontal forms. Sure enough, starting in 2017, the roles were reversed with vertical form classes doubling in size and becoming almost every morning, meanwhile horizontal forms became only a fortnightly occurrence.

Enrolment

Like many secondary schools in Auckland, Takapuna Grammar School operates an enrolment scheme to help curb roll numbers and prevent overcrowding. The school's enrolment zone, in which students residing are automatically entitled to be enrolled without rejection, covers the suburbs of Devonport, Narrow Neck, Bayswater, Belmont, Hauraki, Takapuna and parts of Milford. Students residing outside the zone are accepted as roll places allow per the enrolment scheme order of preference and secret ballot, with siblings of current students getting first preference.

At the August 2011 Education Review Office (ERO) review of the school, Takapuna Grammar School had 1420 students, including 195 international students. Fifty-three percent of students were male and 47 percent were female. Sixty-five percent of students at the school identified as New Zealand European (Pākehā), nine percent as British or Irish, five percent as Māori, five percent as Korean, and three percent as Chinese.

Curriculum

As a state school, Takapuna Grammar School follows The New Zealand Curriculum. Students in Year 11 complete the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 1. In Years 12 and 13, students can continue with NCEA levels 2 and 3, or complete the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme.

Notable students and alumni

• Finn Andrews – songwriter/musician, The Veils
• Sir Peter Blake – yachtsman
• Barry Brickell OBE – potter and conservationist
• Sophia Burn – musician, The Veils
• Howard Charles Clark – academic
• Hon Bruce Cliffe – cabinet minister
• Murray Deaker – deputy principal, radio host and television presenter
• Jacko Gill – shotputter
• Juliette Haigh – 1996–2000 – rower
• Paul Hitchcock – cricketer
• Gary Hurring – swimmer
• Brad Johnstone – rugby coach
• Richard Jones – cricketer
• Eliza McCartney (2010–14) – pole vaulter
• Danny Morrison – cricketer
• Paul Moss – general manager of Media Prima network, judge in 8TV's One in a Million singing contest and Malaysian Idol
• Simon Poelman – decathlete
• Ralph Roberts – yachtsman
• Pamela Stephenson – Pamela Helen Stephenson Connolly – clinical psychologist, writer and actress
• Bert Sutcliffe – cricketer
• Sara Tetro – host of the TV3 NZ reality series New Zealand's Next Top Model
• Stephen Tindall – entrepreneur and founder of The Warehouse
• Pippa Wetzell – television presenter
• Gin Wigmore – singer/songwriter
• Peter Williams 1997–2001 – Alpine Skier 2010 Winter Olympics
• Ella Yelich-O'Connor (professionally known as Lorde), singer-songwriter

Groups

• The Checks – musicians

Notable former staff

• Ruth Aitken ONZM – 1980–1990 – English teacher – coach of the Silver Ferns 2001–2012
• Bessie Christie – painter, art teacher between 1935 and 1940
• Shaunagh Craig – Northern Ireland netball international
• Graham (Red) Delamore – Deputy headmaster mid 60s until early 70s, member of 1949 All Black touring team
• Jack Kelly – Headmaster 1970–1985, member of 1953–1954 All Black touring team