Takapuna Grammar School
| Takapuna Grammar School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 210 Lake Road Belmont Auckland 0622 New Zealand |
|
| Coordinates | 36°48′04″S 174°47′19″E / 36.8011°S 174.7886°ECoordinates: 36°48′04″S 174°47′19″E / 36.8011°S 174.7886°E |
| Information | |
| Type | State Co-educational Secondary (Years 9-13) |
| Motto |
Per Angusta Ad Augusta "Through endeavour to greatness" |
| Established | 1927 |
| Ministry of Education Institution no. | 36 |
| Principal | Mary Nixon |
| School roll | 1721(February 2017) |
| Socio-economic decile | 10Z |
| Website | www |
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 1721 students from Years 9 to 13 (ages 12 to 18) attend the school as of February 2017.
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.
In the 2000s, a $6.4 million ministry-funded three-stage upgrade began at TGS. The three-level building houses social science classrooms, a new library, and student service and social support centres were completed in the second term of 2009.
In late 2015 it was announced that $26 million redevelopment of the school's main block was to commence the following year. The main block, which was initially built in 1927 upon the school's establishment, was described by local MP Maggie Barry as an "appalling sight." The redevelopment of the main block coincided with similar work being done on the school's science block which was completed mid-2016. The work on the main building, described as one of the most expensive in New Zealand's history, is currently underway and expected to be completed 2018-2019.
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