Kelston Girls' College

Story

Kelston Girls’ College is a single-sex girls state secondary school in Kelston, a suburb in the Waitakere region of Auckland, New Zealand. It was created in 1963 when the roll of Kelston High School became too large for the site on the corner of Archibald and Great North Roads. The boys moved to a new site further down Archibald Road and the original site became the home of Kelston Girls’ High School .Name changeIn 2004 Kelston Girls’ High School Board of Trustees decided to undergo a change of name. Following consultation with the community, the school was renamed Kelston Girls’ College. At the time Board chairwoman Rosemary Caldwell commented that the name change would help to attract international students.CurriculumKelston Girls' College is a Te Kotahitanga school. Te Kotahitanga is an education style aimed at raising Māori student achievement. It prescribes that the student is at the centre of learning in the classroom and that culturally responsive relational trust is the focus of all teachers.DemographicsKelston Girls’ College prides itself on its diverse student body. As of 2014 the school’s ethnic composition was as follows: Māori 16%NZ European/Pākehā 4%Samoan 30%Tongan 11%Fijian 6%Middle Eastern 6%Indian 5%African 3%South East Asian 3%Cook Island Māori 2%Niue 4%other Pacific 8%other 2% Kelston Girls' College receives a number of students who have come to New Zealand as refugees. These students are supported with an orientation programme, regular homework tutorials and career planning.Hauora centreKelston Girls' College has an onsite Hauora centre. Students have access to a doctor, registered nurse, physiotherapist, guidance counsellors, youth work, social worker and family planning services. The purpose-built centre aims to support students' physical, emotional and mental health.