Auckland Grammar School is one of New Zealand’s most prestigious schools, in terms of both academic achievement and sporting success.

Founded in 1869, the School has a strong sense of tradition,

pride and confidence.

Per Angusta, Ad Augusta – Through endeavour,

we may attain excellence.

A University of Cambridge International Examinations Fellowship Centrewww.ags.school.nz

The School’s PhilosophyAuckland Grammar School sets its standards very high, demanding excellence across all aspects of daily life.

Often referred to as the ‘Grammar Way’, boys are expected to demonstrate integrity, ability, humility and a strong work ethic. Competition is encouraged and success is celebrated by the time-honoured tradition of ‘crossing stage’ at morning assembly.

Classes are grouped according to academic ability from the initial Form 3 intake, and class placing may change as a result of academic performance as students move up through the School to Form 7.

The Grammar DifferenceThe School is unique in that it is a state school which is consistently at the top of the academic league tables, has over 400 sports teams representing the School each year, has marvellous performance music groups and performing arts productions and a national as well as an international profile.

The success of the School is the result of a combination of factors:

A rich history and tradition (founded in 1869)•A student cohort that is motivated and ambitious for success•Unprecedented community support•Strong governance and management•Extraordinarily strong teaching and support staff•Superb teaching and sports facilities•A prestigious and favoured location•

A School in which Boys can FlourishAuckland Grammar School is exclusively a school for boys. This enables the School to tailor its academic and co-curricular programmes to suit boys; there is no need to compromise.

The School knows the best ways to effectively motivate and teach boys, while promoting their confidence, freedom, self-discipline, academic achievement and leadership skills.

Auckland Grammar School is able to help boys:

Develop a strong sense of self-esteem and worth, while •accommodating for differences in learning style and creating a climate of achievementDiscover their individual strengths and weaknesses and afford •them opportunities to feel good about themselvesExplore their individual interests and identities and pursue their •unique potential, enabling them to enter any situation with poise, assurance and dignity.

Grounds and FacilitiesAuckland Grammar School is located on 16 hectares of land in the central city suburb of Epsom, just minutes from the CBD. The School’s main block, built in 1916 in the ‘Spanish Mission’ style, is one of Auckland’s finest historic buildings.

World-class facilities at the School include a water-based hockey turf, a 360-seat auditorium, three separate sports pavilions, squash courts, a heated outdoor swimming pool and six sand carpet rugby and football fields. The School also has a well-resourced music suite, library and information centre, new technology block and IT laboratories.

Teaching StaffWhile the School is very fortunate to be so well resourced, its key resource is its teaching staff. Grammar has 150 teachers supported by 65 additional staff. It is the quality of its specialist teaching staff that positions Auckland Grammar School as a leader in the field of secondary education.

The School is committed to attracting, retaining and rewarding outstanding teachers and has set up an Academic Endowment Fund to help reflect its commitment to its teaching staff.

Academic Tradition of ExcellenceSince its inception in 1869, Auckland Grammar School continues to support and foster a rigorous traditional education, with high stakes external national and international examinations.

Over the years, the School has produced 25 Rhodes Scholars (to Oxford), 14 Girdlers Scholars (to Cambridge), 8 Fellows of the Royal Society of London (the largest number of any other school outside the UK) and 1 Fields Medal winner (Professor Vaughan Jones 1990).

Post-Graduate StudiesGrammar students go on to study at many leading universities around the world, including Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick, Yale, Harvard, Duke, NYU, Dartmouth, Stanford, NSW, Sydney and Melbourne. A great number of boys in fact earn scholarships to attend these prestigious institutions.

Old BoysMany of Auckland Grammar School’s students have gone on to become leaders in their field on the world stage. The School is particularly proud of such Old Boys as Sir Edmund Hillary, Sir Graeme Liggins, Professor Peter Gluckman, Russell Crowe, Sir Colin Maiden, Doug Howlett, Hamish Carter, Martin Crowe and Professor Vaughan Jones.

Old Boys remain connected to the School, both locally and internationally, through the Old Boys’ Association. As well as attending school events and sporting fixtures, many Old Boys continue to support the School financially through building projects and endowing scholarships for teaching staff.

Examination ResultsThe School’s success in external national and international examinations is unparalleled:

Regularly ranked in the top 5 schools in the elite New •Zealand Scholarship examination100% pass rate in International Cambridge A-level exams •since boys started entering these exams in 2004Consistently had University Entrance pass rates over 90% •during the past 17 yearsMajority of entrants ranked in the top 1% in other •international examinations (eg American Classical League and Australian Mathematics, Science and English)

Representing New ZealandIn the past two years, 36 New Zealand students have travelled internationally to represent New Zealand at the annual Biology, Chemistry and Mathematical Olympiads and the International Young Physicists Tournament.

These events include the best scholars of the world and New Zealand competes with distinction, regularly winning medals. 13 of the 36 New Zealand students selected to compete in the past two years have been from Auckland Grammar School – a record surpassing any other school.

Dual PathwayAs New Zealand’s leading academic secondary school for boys, Auckland Grammar School offers a dual qualification pathway: both the New Zealand National Certificate of Education Achievement (NCEA) and the University of Cambridge International Exams (CIE).

CIE is administered by Cambridge Assessment, a subsidiary •of the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Established in 1863, it provides examination services in over 160 countries. Although CIE is based in the UK and the structure of the CIE awards is the same as the UK awards, its courses are designed for the international community.

Universities around the world recognise CIE qualifications as •University Entrance Qualifications.

NCEA is accepted for University Entrance in New Zealand, •Australia and in most countries where New Zealand has a cross government protocol arrangement.

Boys must be prepared to work hard and tackle the requirements of the rigorous, advanced courses on offer. In return we guarantee that we will give all boys the very best in teaching, guidance and support to ensure they achieve the highest level of success.

Year 11 Year 12 Year 13

Level 1 NCEA

IGCSE Level 2 NCEA

AS Level 3 NCEA

AS A2

Accounting ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Biology ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Business Studies ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Career Studies ✓ ✓ ✓Chemistry ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Classical Studies ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 2011

Co-ordinated Sciences ✓Design ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Economics ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓English ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ESOL ✓ ✓

French ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Geography ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Graphics/Graphic Products ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓History ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓History of Art ✓ ✓Japanese ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Latin ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Mathematics ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Mathematics with Calculus ✓Mathematics with Statistics ✓Music ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Painting ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Photography ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Physical Education ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Physics ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Science ✓

Spanish ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Technology/Product Design ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Visual Art ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Curriculum OverviewThe following senior subjects are offered conditional on sufficient student numbers.

Key: ✓ Syllabus / qualification available and on offer

“A respectful relationship between teachers and students underpins a shared enthusiasm for learning.”

“Best practice in ICT observed were the use of on-line learning and revision, simulation software, intranet access for students and parents, research and data presentations and video links.”

“The School attracts and retains high quality teachers, many of whom have specialist subject knowledge and use stimulating teaching approaches.”

“Results in national and international examinations show that the School ranks amongst the highest performing schools in New Zealand.”

“Boys make very good progress during their school years and many excel as senior students in CIE examinations, NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship.”

“Boys are proud to be high achievers and ‘crossing stage’ to the acclamation of their peers is a highly sought-after honour.”

“Many teachers have had a long association with the School and contribute actively to the School’s tradition of academic excellence and subject specialisation.”

“The School’s organisational model... produces high achieving students who identify strongly with the traditions and core values of the School.”

“Grammar boys are proud of their school.”

“In addition to academic success, students have opportunities to participate and succeed in a wide range of cultural, artistic and sporting activities at national and international levels.”

“International students interviewed during the review were very positive about the School and spoke highly of teachers and the support they were given.”

Direct quotes from the Education Review Office (ERO) Report on Auckland Grammar School 2008.

Co-Curricular Activities

SportsBoys are encouraged to be involved in sporting activities. A wide range of sports are available and every boy can find a team to suit his interests and skill level. Involvement in sport fosters a sense of sportsmanship and fair play, teamwork, leadership and pride in performance.

Grammar teams are competitive at the highest levels nationally. In recent years rugby, rowing, football, hockey, tennis, cycling, table tennis, weightlifting, squash, cross country and track and field teams have won national titles.

In addition to a belief in being fully competitive at top levels, the School believes in encouraging involvement for all.

Sports available include:

Adventure Race Archery

Athletics Badminton

Basketball Cricket

Cross Country Curling

Cycling Fencing

Football Golf

Hockey Kayaking

Lawn Bowls Lacrosse

Mountain Biking Multisport

Orienteering Rock Climbing

Rowing Rugby

Skiing Snow Boarding

Softball Squash

Swimming Table Tennis

Tennis Volleyball

Waterpolo Weight Lifting

Yachting

Outdoor EducationThe School owns a four-hectare outdoor education facility, VentureLodge, on the outskirts of the township of Ohakune in the central North Island.

Every Fourth Form boy is expected to attend a week-long camp, with activities including tramping, caving, climbing, rafting and a ropes course.

As part of the Sixth Form Physical Education course, all students attend a five-day camp at Motutapu Island, where they sail, kayak, canoe, orienteer and take part in an overnight expedition.

There is also a very active Duke of Edinburgh programme and a popular tramping club.

Cultural ActivitiesMusic - The Music Department offers a variety of performance music opportunities and a full range of instrumental tuition.

Stage Band Concert Band

Grammar Virtuosi Chamber Ensembles

Jazz Groups Pipe Band

Grammar Voices Percussion Groups

Symphony Orchestra Barbershop Quartet

Drama - The annual drama or music production in conjunction with Epsom Girls’ Grammar School is a high quality season, enabling a large number of boys to participate in acting or backstage work.

A Senior Play is produced annually by Seventh Form boys, also in association with Epsom Girls’ Grammar School.

Debating - School teams compete in local competitions, in addition to form and inter-form competitions.

Cultural Groups - The cultural diversity of the Auckland Grammar School community is reflected in the many different cultural groups operating. The boys demonstrate their pride in their cultural heritage through assembly performances and cultural evenings. Groups include:

Samoan Tongan

Maori Sri Lankan

Korean Asian

Indian

Clubs and Activities - Other co-curricular clubs and activities offered at Auckland Grammar School include:

Chess Christian Fellowship

Journalism Senior Film Society

Electornics Bridge

Computing Young Enterprise Scheme

LeadershipSenior students have an optional Outdoor Leadership course based around the lodge at Ohakune in the Tongariro National Park.

Leadership opportunities are also provided by the Prefects and Monitors system and the Headmaster’s Committees.: Cultural, Environmental, Social Awareness and Welfare.

Overseas ToursThere are a number of overseas language, cultural and sporting tours available, with regular tours to the UK, USA, Asia, Australia and Europe.

International DepartmentInternational students are a valued part of the Auckland Grammar School community, representing a wide range of nationalities and comprising three percent of the School’s roll. The Board of Trustees has agreed that international students will not exceed five percent of the School’s total enrolments.

Allan M Faull (BSc DipTchg), Director of International Students Mr Faull oversees the operation of the International Student Department and ensures that all international students are succeeding academically and are participating in co-curricular activities. He often meets with parents and agents, reporting to them about the progress of their sons and also to market Auckland Grammar School as an international destination for secondary school education. (Mr Faull is pictured at right with Mrs Heslin).

Sandra Heslin, International Student Manager Mrs Heslin oversees the welfare of international students, including the management of homestays, the monitoring and reporting of student progress and liaising with other school staff. She is available to international students at all times to assist them during their time in New Zealand.

Sharyn Mathias, International Student Administrator Ms Mathias is responsible for guiding students and families through the enrolment process, responding to enquiries, sending relevant information and tracking the applications, ensuring all necessary documentation is correct and current.

Student WelfareThe International Department of Auckland Grammar School considers the safety and welfare of its students to be of paramount importance.

The School is a signatory to the Code for the Pastoral Care of International Students, which provides a procedure that students can follow if they have any concerns about their treatment by a New Zealand Education Provider or Agent of a Provider.

The School uses a reputable homestay agency to provide families for our international students and all boys require a guardian during their time in New Zealand. The School is able to recommend a responsible guardian if the family is not able to nominate one.

International students are supported by the wider pastoral care network in the School. Deans oversee each year level, the Guidance Counsellors are available should there be significant personal issues and the Careers Department staff assist with application and placement to tertiary study.

The ESOL Department supports students who don’t speak English as a first language, but if students require significant ESOL assistance, the School has a close affiliation with a language school less than one kilometre from Grammar.

Seung Hyuk Choi; Seoul, KoreaSeung Hyuk achieved academic, sporting and cultural successes in his five years at Grammar.

In the A stream, his excellent Maths and Science grades saw him gain an ASB Bursary for Academic Excellence in his final year. He also excelled at Art; exhibiting in the Grammar Art Exhibition and winning the Konica Minolta Secondary Art awards in his seventh form year.

He represented the School in football and, as a member of the Headmaster’s Cultural Committee, organised events such as Rockquest and the Battle of the Bands. A prefect in his final year, Seung Hyuk went on to study at the University of Melbourne in Australia.

Simon Lindner; Hamburg, GermanySimon studied Maths, Physics, Chemistry, History and English. He also took part in rowing, music and rock climbing as part of his co-curricular studies.

“I want to thank you again very much that you gave me the opportunity to come to New Zealand and for being so helpful and caring to me all the time. It has really been an amazing experience, and this semester, especially the second term, was without a doubt the most wonderful and fulfilled one of my life. I am still in contact with many Kiwis and we are very certain that our relationships will last long-term. I feel very lucky about everything.”

Preshin Manmindar; SingaporePreshin studied Cambridge Maths, Economics, History and English at Grammar. He represented the School in Premier Grade Squash, playing in the Premier Squash team with an A grade rating and winning two National Secondary School Squash titles as a member of the School’s Premier team.

Before joining Grammar, Preshin had travelled extensively on his own within the USA and Canada. At Grammar he went on to prove that he was an exemplary young man, a natural leader and a very capable student.

Tom Atwell; Wisconsin, USATom thoroughly enjoyed his Grammar experience, studying History, Geography, Economics, Maths and English. A very popular student, Tom was also involved in skiing and sailed on the Spirit of Adventure.

At Grammar, he remembers being surrounded by talent “that can both defeat you and bring out your best; and both of these are opportunities for learning and growth. To be beaten is easy, but to recover and improve is harder. Grammar helped me learn this skill, along with giving me a dose of humility, which has been so important moving forward in my life.”

“Going to New Zealand was the first big challenge in my life, and it gave me a hunger for more of the same. It is this desire for challenges, and the knowledge, wisdom, and adventure they provide, that drives me and countless other Grammar boys onward.”

After leaving Grammar, Tom went on to pursue degrees in Applied Economics, History and Geography at the University of Wisconsin.

ContactAuckland Grammar School Private Bag 99930 Newmarket Auckland 1149 New Zealand

Email: international@ags.school.nz Phone: 64-9- 623 5400 Fax: 64-9- 623 5401

www.ags.school.nz