2017 PROSPECTUS WELCOME TO WESTERN SPRINGS COLLEGE Western Springs College is on the threshold of becoming thinking. Accordingly, we seek to a new school. The opportunity to design and construct offer an increasingly personalised new buildings and facilities presents the school education which recognises and caters for the unique individual community with the prospect of an innovative secondary interests and strengths of each of school learning environment which will further enhance our students and in doing so opens the delivery of an already outstanding education. up a range of challenging pathways beyond school. All successful educational institutions We emphasise our commitment to benefit from self-review and self- WSC’s core business of producing We retain our mission to develop renewal. Planning for the new school graduates who gain the academic well-rounded young adults who hold sound values, including, above all, has sharpened our thinking both qualifications required for competitive self-respect and respect for others. about the essence of a Western access to sought-after tertiary We celebrate our coeducational Springs College education and about level courses. the ways we need to change in and multicultural identity and the order to future-proof the educational We have also reaffirmed our identity opportunities presented to establish experiences through which our as a school distinctive for nurturing healthy friendships and to become at young people will thrive and develop. individuality, creativity and critical ease living and working with people from the diverse range of backgrounds which is Auckland today. For parents, membership of our school community means ready access to, and direct communication with relevant staff and the chance to belong to a very active and supportive parent network with clear links to staff and trustees. Ken Havill, Principal SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM (BACK L-R) Ivan Davis, Paul Alford, Karen Stimson www.westernsprings.school.nz (FRONT L-R) Lorrin Shortland, Ken Havill, Ruth Roberts, Chris Selwyn ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT Western Springs College 2015 WSC NCEA PASS RATES has a well-earned NATIONAL AND SAME DECILE COMPARISON reputation for outstanding % Roll Achieving Qualifications WSC NZ Decile 8-10 academic achievement within a safe, nurturing University Entrance (Year 13) 91% 65% learning environment. Level 3 (Year 13) 95% 75% Level 2 (Year 12) 92% 81% Western Springs College provides students and families with the Level 1 (Year 11) 88% 82% opportunity to experience a secondary education within • Western Springs College: Top NZ Decile 8 state secondary school a school community that for seven consecutive years. accurately reflects the diverse • Western Springs College: Top (first or second ranking) Auckland character of 21st century Auckland. region state secondary, 2009-2015. For whanau of Maori students, the Source for all statistics: www.nzqa.govt.nz College provides the opportunity to be educated within the rumaki – Nga Puna O Waiorea – the A CO-EDUCATIONAL COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP EXAMINATION Te Reo Maori immersion kura WHERE GIRLS EXCEL WSC students gained 22 Scholarships within the College. For many years female student in 2015, again well in excess of the With a roll of 1400 students achievement at Western Springs national rate. Springs remains small enough College has dispelled the myth that A notable and very encouraging to enable us to cater at a personal girls do not excel academically in feature was the achievement of five level for the individual needs a coeducational setting. The 2015 Outstanding Scholarships awards; of our students, but large enough University Entrance pass rate for WSC these top student awards were in the to offer a comprehensive range girls (95%) exceeded that for same- following subjects: Art Design (2); of subjects and extra-curricula decile girls’ schools (73%) by 22%. Calculus; Biology; and History. experiences. (The 2014 margin was 21%.) ...AND BOYS DO TOO! The subjects in which the most The WSC boys’ pass rate for Scholarships were gained were History (6); Biology (3); Dance (3) 5% University Entrance (88%) exceeded OTHER and Art Design (3). Other subjects 6% that for boys’ schools in the Decile ASIAN in which our students achieved 8-10 range (59%) by 29%; the margin 7% Scholarships were Media Studies (2); PASIFIKA has been over 20% for the last four Music; Physics; Classical Studies; years, 2012-2015. and English. MAORI STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT In 2015, the certification pass rates for WSC Maori students were again outstanding: WSC Maori NZ Maori (Decile 8-10) U. E. 92% 56% Level 3 97% 71% Level 2 96% 82% Level 1 85% 79% 27% 55% MAORI PAKEHA COMING TO COLLEGE ENROLMENTS Note: School finishes early on can be made with the staff in the Tuesdays, at 2:45p.m. to allow time school office. There are also subject Enrolments are governed by the for staff professional development. course fees to cover costs such as Ministry of Education enrolment materials and write-on work books. scheme. Details are included in the SCHOOL DONATIONS folder accompanying the prospectus, Parents/caregivers are asked to make an annual contribution to the DRESS AND on the college website and from the APPEARANCE school office. College’s funds to help provide for educational, cultural, social activities Western Springs College has no Enrolments begin after Open Week and health services not covered by formal uniform. The development of in June. Parents/caregivers who live government funding. sensible attitudes towards matters of in-zone should contact the school THE SCHOOL DONATION IS: dress and appearance is seen as part office to arrange an enrolment $370 if there is one student in the of the education process. interview time with the deputy family; or $470 if there are two or principal. Dress should be neat and appropriate more students from a family. for all school-related occasions. It is The Board of Trustees has decided School donations should be paid not acceptable for students to wear to accept no out-of-zone enrolments at the time of enrolment, or at clothing that is immodest, ripped for 2017. the beginning of the school year. or that has offensive messages. In SCHOOL DAY Payment can be made by cash, questions of acceptability of dress, The school day begins at 9:00 a.m. cheque or credit card. Arrangements the College’s decision will be final. and ends at 3:15 p.m. for automatic payment by instalment Parent support is expected. CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT PUTTING CRITICAL, EVALUATIVE of very few secondary schools to competitions, sporting activities, AND CREATIVE THINKING have introduced a compulsory Maori social and environmental activism, CENTRE STAGE Studies course in our junior school. performances and exhibitions are At Western Springs College we We were one of the first schools integrated into learning programmes design our curriculum so that to develop a strong, thriving Media and essential to the way Springs opportunities for higher-level thinking Studies presence across all year students learn. Making connections are part of normal tasks and students levels, and we are perhaps the across and beyond subject are actively involved in their learning. only NZ state school to have boundaries gives meaning From Health to Dance, and from Arts introduced Philosophy as an to learning. to Statistics, we expect our students elective for all year levels. to be leading the debate, posing new Accelerated students have the CONNECTING WITH OUR questions, and generating solutions. opportunity to take a university paper COMMUNITY AND RESPONDING under the auspices of the University DIVERSE PATHWAYS TO STUDENT NEEDS of Auckland Young Scholars Our curriculum structure is designed Our Education for Sustainability programme or as a distance learner to keep the doors open for all course connects students with Waikato University. students to University Entrance (U.E.), directly with sustaining our local while also providing opportunities for environment. The strong focus of the PERSONALISING ASSESSMENT direct connections with the world of History Department on New Zealand The College’s most recent work. Performing Arts Technology, history develops students’ awareness external reviews have affirmed our Hospitality and Catering Courses are of their bicultural identity, rooted in insistence that assessment should examples of these opportunities, as a sense of place. The introduction reflect rather than drive learning. are First Aid and Diving qualifications. of Digital Technology and Chinese These reviews have applauded High student uptake in English and across all year levels is a recent our attempts to personalise Mathematics courses, right through instance of the college responding to assessment by allowing and to Year 13, helps to ensure our student and parental interest encouraging alternative forms of outstanding U.E. pass rate. and demand. assessment; assessing students when they are ready; developing AT THE FOREFRONT OF BEYOND THE CLASSROOM acceleration programmes; and CURRICULUM INNOVATION Our curriculum does not stop developing multiple pathways The College has led the way in at the classroom door. Trips though NCEA courses. curriculum innovation. We are one and visits, cultural events and STUDENT SUPPORT The college is organised and peer mentoring programmes, into five houses – Atea, individual and group learning- how- to-learn interventions, study skills and Kapura, Moana, Oranga examination technique workshops, and Whenua. Each has its and programmes for gifted and own Head of House who is talented students. responsible for the support CANTEEN and guidance of the Western Springs College encourages students in the form healthy eating habits amongst our students. There is available a classes in that house. selection of hot and cold food and drinks from breakfast time through to If you have a concern about any sports practice time in the afternoon. aspect of your child’s education, There is a covered courtyard Accelerated learning is made possible your initial point of contact should attached to the Canteen with picnic by multi-levelling whereby students be with the form teacher or with the tables for the students, making it a are able to study at a level suited to head of your child's house.