Botany Downs Secondary College
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| Botany Downs Secondary College (BDSC) | |
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| Address | |
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| Coordinates | 36°56′04″S 174°54′58″E / 36.934370°S 174.915984°E |
| Information | |
| Motto | "Maximising achievement through intellectual growth" |
| Opened | January 2004 |
| Ministry of Education Institution no. | 6930 |
| Principal | Karen Brinsden |
| Years offered | 9–13 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| School roll | 1914[1] (August 2024) |
| Socio-economic decile | 9Q[2] |
| Website | www |
Botany Downs Secondary College is a state coeducational secondary school located in the Auckland, New Zealand suburb of East Tamaki. The school opened at the beginning of the 2004 school year to serve new residential development in the eastern Auckland area and to relieve other secondary schools in the area. Serving Years 9 to 13, the school has a roll of approximately 1914 students.[1] Karen Brinsden has been appointed as the new principal for the school, starting from the beginning of 2016.
History
Botany Downs Secondary College was gazetted by Education Minister Trevor Mallard on 12 November 2001, with the working name Howick South Secondary School.[3] The school opened in January 2004, initially taking Year 9 students only. The remaining school years opened as the 2004 Year 9 students moved through, with the school fully opening at the beginning of 2008.
Logo
The logo design uses the circles of the Beta and Delta characters from the Greek alphabet.
- The inner circle represents the student.
- The outer circle represents the nurturing and educating by the teacher.
- The overlapping circles echo the traditional role of the educator and the student.
- The outer shape links the circles, envelops the whole school community and is pointing towards the future.
Enrolment
At the June 2012 Education Review Office (ERO) review of the school, Botany Downs Secondary College had 1742 students, including 96 international students. The school has an Asian majority with 51 percent of students identifying as such, including 15 percent as Chinese and 15 percent as Indian. Forty-one percent of students identified as European, including 30 percent as New Zealand European (Pākehā). Māori and Pacific Islanders make up four percent of the roll each.[4]
Botany Downs Secondary College has a socio-economic decile of 9 (step Q), meaning it draws its school community from areas of low to moderately-low socioeconomic disadvantage when compared to other New Zealand schools. This changed from decile 10 (funding step Z) at the beginning of 2015, as part of the nationwide review of deciles following the following the 2013 census.[2]
Whanau system
The Whanau system in BDSC is designed to create a 'family' atmosphere; a "home away from home". It encourages a sense of a community based learning environment. There were previously 4 Whanau, with the late addition of Britten and Koru.
- Koru Whanau (Green)
- John Britten Whanau (Black)
- Spirit Whanau (Purple)
- Discovery Whanau (Blue)
- Endeavour Whanau (Yellow)
- Sir Peter Blake Whanau (Red)
References
- ^ a b "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Decile Change 2014 to 2015 for State & State Integrated Schools". Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
- ^ Mallard, Trevor (29 November 2001). "Establishment of a New School". New Zealand Gazette. 2001 (161). New Zealand Government: 3935. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "Botany Downs Secondary College Education Review". Education Review Office. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2015.