Spotswood College

Spotswood College

High Endeavour
Address
South Road,
New Plymouth,
Taranaki,
New Zealand
Coordinates 39°04′16″S 174°02′14″E / 39.0710°S 174.0371°E / -39.0710; 174.0371Coordinates: 39°04′16″S 174°02′14″E / 39.0710°S 174.0371°E / -39.0710; 174.0371
Information
Type State co-educational secondary, years 9-13
Established 1960
Ministry of Education Institution no. 173
Principal Mr. Mark Bowden
School roll 761[1] (March 2016)
Socio-economic decile 5M[2]
Website spotswoodcollege.school.nz

Spotswood College is a co-educational state secondary school in Spotswood, New Plymouth, New Zealand. It was founded in 1960 and celebrated its 50th Jubilee in 2010. It is New Zealand's former largest school.

It is currently New Plymouth's only co-educational secondary school, with a current roll of 761 students.[1] The college has a multi-cultural student body and modern facilities for staff and students.

Some of the less common features of Spotswood College include its beach volleyball arena, horticultural facilities, music department complete with recording facilities, and highly rated special education department.

Houses

Spotswood College initially had four houses. In 1969, when the college expanded the education department split the college into two schools, one named East, the other West. In 1980 the college reverted to its original structure and the four house system was re-introduced. The houses were named after the original settlers of New Plymouth. In 2012, the houses were given dual names with the original names added. The house names are based off the Paritutu rock formations off the coast off New Plymouth.

1960-1968 and 2012-present

1969-1979

1980-present

Spotswood College in 1969

International

Spotswood College currently has hosted international students from Germany, Brazil, Japan, USA, China, Russia, New Caledonia, Switzerland and Thailand. It has specific facilities and staff members to support them during their time in New Zealand.[3]

In 2009, 22 students from Spotswood College's kapa haka group Te Kura Tuarua O Ngamotu were chosen to represent New Zealand at the tenth annual Te Manahua Maori cultural competition in Laie, Hawaii.[4]

In 2013, Spotswood College provided students learning Japanese the opportunity to visit their sister school Hatsukaichi Senior High School in Hiroshima, Japan. In exchange, 8 students and 1 teacher from Hatsukaichi Senior High School visited Spotswood College and were hosted by local families.

Classes and groups from Spotswood College have also visited Japan, New Caledonia, Argentina, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand.

Sister school

Paritutu tragedy

The base of Paritutu

On 8 August 2012, Spotswood College students Stephen Kahukaka-Gedye and Felipe Melo, both 17, and their Taranaki Outdoor Pursuits and Education Centre instructor Bryce Jourdain, 42, were swept out to sea while climbing around Paritutu rock as part of a TOPEC camp activity.[5] The body of Felipe Melo was later found and identified.[6] The bodies of Bryce and Stephen were never found.

TOPEC pleads guilty to three charges. A fourth is dropped. They face fines of up to $250,000 for each charge.[7] Spotswood College now has a stone monument in memory of them outside the Administration Office.

Principals

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 "Directory of Schools - as at 18 April 2016". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 2015-04-19.
  2. ↑ "Decile Change 2014 to 2015 for State & State Integrated Schools". Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  3. ↑ Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ Johnston, Kirsty (2009-02-23). "Spotswood group bound for Hawaii". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
  5. ↑ Charles, Robert. "Paritutu Tragedy", Stuff.co.nz, 27 October 2012. Retrieved on 26 November 2013.
  6. ↑ Smith, Blanton. "Body identified as Felipe", Stuff.co.nz, 20 August 2012. Retrieved on 26 November 2013.
  7. ↑ "Paritutu timeline", Stuff.co.nz, 8 August 2013. Retrieved on 26 November 2013.
  8. ↑ "Willy Moon was awesome say Mae Valley after X Factor dump". 21 April 2015.
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