Spotswood College is a vibrant co-educational school with just over 1000 students. We offer exciting opportunities for all students in academic, cultural and sporting areas. All students are encouraged to achieve. Quality teaching and learning are our core business. It is what we do best. Learning is tailored to each student and a high standard of achievement and personal conduct is expected. We want our students to be independent, critical and creative thinkers, well able to cope with the challenge beyond the school gates. Our Philosophy is captured in our Vision Statement: "Helping build great people". I believe that the outstanding feature of our school is the positive and caring attitude of our students and staff. Their humour and friendly attitudes towards each other create an excellent environment for teaching and learning.
Core Values
As a school community in 2009 we are striving to encourage all students and staff to focus on our key word.
PRIDE - Our themes are;
|
P |
= Personal Best |
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R |
= Respect |
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I |
= Integrity |
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D |
= Determination |
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E |
= Enjoyment |
Academic Focus
We believe in ensuring that students aim to achieve their personal best academically and that all students strive for excellence. The fine achievement of gaining five National NCEA Year 13 Scholarships in 2006 is simply outstanding. We gained a further three scholarships in 2007, and four in 2008. Our academic record speaks for itself and our students attain very high levels in Tertiary Education. Our Year 10 Achievement Certificate is assisting our students to develop attitudes and work habits which will stand them in good stead in the Senior school. Twenty five Year 10 talented students achieved extremely well in Year 11 NCEA Level 1 Chemistry. These students are taught at 7.30am three times a week. Over ninety students won Academic Medallions in 2009 for Excellence in NCEA. In 2005 we began a "Learning to Learn" Programme for Senior students designed to better prepare them for NCEA success.
Cultural Opportunities
Spotswood College offers students many valuable opportunities in Shakespearian Drama, Drama, Dance, Debating, Public Speaking, Jazz, Rock and Concert Bands. "Free Funk on the Freeway" Band won the 2008 Regional Competition and "Asher Vallen Trio" won the 2009 Regional Competition in the Smoke Free Rock Quest while the Concert and Jazz Bands travelled to Melbourne in 2007 and 2008 for the Melbourne Band Festival. In 2009 Spotswood College again performed outstandingly well in the National Sheilah Winn event for the third year in a row. The Spotswood College Kapa Haka Group are regular Regional winners and went to Nationals in 2006. They were again the best Performing Group from Taranaki in 2008.
Spotswood College won 1st place for the 2008 Taranaki Literary Challenge.
School Productions are becoming part of a tradition also with "Back to the Eighties" in 2004 and "Disco Inferno" in 2006 and "Footloose" in 2008.
Other Cultural Opportunities: - Jazz and Concert Band regularly travel to Melbourne - Exchange visits for students to Mishima, our sister city. This occurred in 2004 and 2007. - Young Enterprise Team - Taranaki Regional Winners in 2003 and 2005. - Senior Art trip to Sydney Biennale in 2006.
Sporting Opportunities
In the sporting realm we pride ourselves in offering students a wide range of opportunities. Our Sports Co-ordinator ensures that our rates of participation are high. We excel in Volleyball with both our Girls and Boys teams being Taranaki Regional winners in recent years. We have achieved outstanding results in Beach Volleyball with Peter Allemann and Steven Davison being the New Zealand Senior Beach Volleyball Champions in 2006. Our Rugby, Netball, Hockey, Cricket, Basketball, Equestrian and In-Line hockey teams have all achieved success. A student in our Golf Academy, Ji Soo Oh, won the New Zealand U21 Women's Amateur Matchplay Golf Championship in 2006 and our Team won the Taranaki Secondary Schools Title in 2007. In Cross Country Amin Osama won the Taranaki Junior Title and Sam Hinchliff was 3rd in the Intermediate Boys. Amin also performed well in 2008. Students regularly achieve outstanding success at both Regional and National level in a wide range of events.
International Students
We have a well established and highly regarded International Students Programme with over forty students in 2009. Our school prides itself in caring for our International Students and ensuring that they are well catered for in Home Stay situations and in being integrated into the wider life of the school.
Modern Facilities
Spotswood College is a very modern school, with first class facilities in a wide range of subject areas. They are well supported with three modern computer labs and over two hundred computers. Our well equipped Gym is enhanced by a range of sporting fields and courts. A special recent addition is our Beach Volleyball Court.
I would welcome enquiries from prospective students and their families. I would really enjoy showing families around our school.
Please contact me either by telephone (06) 751 2416 or by email: gmc@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Yours sincerely
Graeme McFadyen B.A. Hons, Dip Ed. Management, Dip Teaching Principal |
