(formerly, '''The Auckland College and Grammar School'''; commonly '''AGS'''), is a
State Secondary School in
Auckland ,
New Zealand , colloquially known as "Grammar" to Aucklanders. It is a secondary school for boys, from Year 9 (still referred to as its previous name, Form 3) to Year 13 (Form 7). The school also has a limited number of boarders, who live in a building adjacent to the school. The 2004 roll was 2490
{Link without Title} , making it one of the largest schools in New Zealand.
The school was created by the Auckland Grammar School Appropriation Act
1868 , but is predated by the school's charter given by Governor
Sir George Grey's Deed Of Endowment in
1850 . The school is one of the oldest schools in New Zealand.
The school's historic motto, "Per Angusta ad Augusta" (''Through rough ravines to hallowed heights'') is shared by at least three other grammar schools in Auckland, Auckland Girls Grammar School,
Mount Albert Grammar School and
Takapuna Grammar School . In recent times Auckland Grammar has used
''Through difficulties to greatness'' as the translation of the latin motto.
The School is located on a 152,000 m&
2 estate in central Auckland.
At the very front of the school there is a War Memorial, comprising a large obelisk standing on a plinth commemorating the Old Boys of the school who fought in various Wars. There is the main block (discussed below), a library and information centre, the Centennial Theatre (which is available for public use), a pool, a music block attached to the theatre, a science block, an english block, an arts block, a specialist block, a multimedia theatre ("MMT", currently under repairs), a technology block that includes two computer labs with 40 computers in each, a gymnasium and weights room, a sports pavilion (due to be replaced in 2006), a water based Hockey Turf with pavilion, and the "O Rooms", a group of prefabricated class rooms that have become semipermanent. A stadium to supplant the current gym is in construction currently
{Link without Title} , and a sand-based turf was recently completed.
The main block of the School was built in 1916 in the "Spanish Mission" style and has "A"-grade historical protection. The main feature of this building is the hall, where assemblies are held on most ordinary school days. The hall has an innovative design, with a vaulted ceiling covering the central "court" of the building. There are 12 class rooms at ground level (A floor), 12 class rooms on the second level (B floor), 2 class rooms at either end of the hall on the third floor (C floor), and four class rooms beneath the hall (D floor). The offices of the headmaster and deputy headmasters are on the first floor, as well as the offices of the administration and secreterial staff. The staff room is on the second floor.
Tibbs House (the sole boarding facility) is a large colonial-style wooden edifice. Some more recent expansions are not well in keeping with the older buildings.
Auckland Grammar School 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 has produced 25
Rhodes Scholars and 52
All Blacks . The School has also produced 16
Girdlers' Scholars to
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge — New Zealand's most prestigious school-leaving award.
The school celebrates and remembers its top scholars by recording their names on boards surrounding the main hall. The name of any student who meets a certain standard in his external examinations is placed on these boards. The standard is high, and is adjusted as examinations change. The conversion from the Bursary examinations to the Cambridge International Examinations was successful, and the first group of Cambridge scholars was recorded in 2005.
Historically, the demand for places in the school has outstripped capacity. Formerly entry was determined by examination, scholarship or by a family connection (father/grandfather's attendance).
Auckland Grammar School operates an
Enrolment Scheme .
One consequence of zoning (of any form, including previous zoning schemes) may be that parents purchase property in the zone, thereby increasing house prices. There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that this in indeeed the case with Auckland Grammar, but the effect is hard to measure. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that parents may also move temporarly into the zone, or simply lie about where they live.
According to the school's website
a merit rather than geographical basis for selection would be preferred. They note that the geographical basis is likely to reduce access to students from lower socioeconomic groups. Auckland Grammar's 'voluntary' donation for each student was NZD$700 in 2005 and approximately five times higher than the average [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10008811 . The highest voluntary donations are requested by state integrated schools, reaching up to NZD$5,000 [http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3570002a7694,00.html], but Auckland Grammar's request is the highest of any state (as opposed to state integrated) school.
All students entering the school at Year 9 level sit entrance examinations, designed to test a students aptitude in a way that is not overly dependent on the quality of their teaching at previous schools. There is anecdotal evidence that private schools prepare their students specifically for these exams, but there is not much concern about this issue as students will naturally end up in the appropriate stream for them after subsequent examinations.
Year 9/Form 3 students study mostly the same subjects. All students study English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. The top half of Form 3 must study Latin, as well as a modern lanuage. In 2006, the choices for this modern language option were French, Japanese and Spanish.
At the end of every term, all students sit examinations. These are critical in Form 3 and Form 4, as they will affect what stream students are placed in. For Form 3 and Form 4, the Term 3 examinations are not critical, and students in Form 4 will change streams far less than Form 3 students. Forms 5, 6, and 7 only change streams at the end of a year, unless there are special circumstances. They sit school exams in the first three terms, and external examinations in the fourth term.
Streams are labelled systematically, based on their standing. They are more commonly referred to as classes.
Third Form begins with 3A, being the highest achieving academically, down to 3P. The number of classes is subject to change, due to the role size and availability of teachers.
Fourth Form is much the same, but the senior school deviates from this pattern. Classes sitting the Cambridge International Examinations are named as expected, but
NCEA students are placed in classes named 5C1, 5D1, etc. Take note that they begin at C, as apposed to A. Thus, the top NCEA stream is 5C1, 6C1 or 7C1, depending on Form.
Streaming is a controversial topic, and it has many critics, although critics within the school are few. There is no indication that streaming will loosen in the future, as it is an integral part of the Grammar tradition. It achieves good results, but there is speculation it allows students to slide along and not really achieve anything, especially in the middle streams. Higher streams, especially the A stream, often get very talented, experienced, or senior teachers. While Grammar maintains that all its teachers of a high quality, realities dictate that not all teachers are equal.
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.
Currently, students in 4A, 4B, and 5C down to (but not including) 5C1 study for the
IGCSE examinations. 5C1 and lower study for NCEA Level 1.
Students in 5A, 5B, and 6C down to (but not including) 6C1 study for the AS Level examinations. 6C1 and lower study for NCEA Level 2.
Students in 6A, 6B, and 7A down to (but not including) 7C1 study for the AS Level and A2 examinations. 7C1 and lower study for NCEA Level 3.
Results have steadily improved since the introduction of CIE, largely attributed to a growing familiarity among teachers with the syllabus, and a better understanding of how exams are marked.
If a student is placed in a Cambridge class, they have the right to do NCEA, but this is usually discouraged by the school.
The ongoing introduction of the controversial New Zealand Scholarship (known by some as 'NCEA Level 4') has been viewed skeptically by the school. Only the top students are encouraged to attempt it, but due to syllabus differences between NCEA and CIE in some subjects, some students find it a challenge.
''Grammar Boys''
{Link without Title} , a 60 minute documentary about the school was shown on New Zealand television.
- Ben Atiga - former All Black
- Hamish Carter (1971–), 2004 Summer Olympic gold medal (triathlon)
- Martin Crowe (1962–), cricketer
- Russell Crowe (1964–), actor
- Sir Roger Douglas (1937-), former Finance Minister
- Sir Raymond Firth (1901–2002), anthropologist
- Sir James Fletcher (1914-), Industrialist
- Grant Fox (1962-), former All Black captain
- Charles Goldie (1870–1947), artist
- Sir Doug Graham (1942–), politician
- Air Marshal Sir Kenneth Hayr (1935-2001), former UK Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff.
- Graham Henry - All Black coach
- Sir Edmund Hillary (1919–), explorer
- Doug Howlett (1978–), international Rugby Union player
- Rt Hon Jonathan Hunt (1938–), former Speaker of the New Zealand House Of Representatives
- Prof Vaughan Jones (1952–), Fields Medal winner
- Sir Hugh Kawharu (1927-), Maori Scholar
- Sir Kenneth Keith (1937-), Judge on the International Court Of Justice
- Sir Colin Maiden (1933-), former Vice-Chancellor of Auckland University
- Sir Leslie Munro (1901–), former President of the General Assembly of the United Nations
- Andrew Niccol (1964–), Screenwriter, producer and director - Gattaca and Lord Of War
- Sir George Douglas Robb (1899–1974), Reformist Doctor.
- Sir Wilson Whineray (1935-), former All Black captain & prominent businessman.
- Jonathan Bruce (1980–) and Leonard McMullen (1979–), International Musicians ( Anti-Kati )
