Nga Tawa Diocesan School

Nga Tawa Diocesan School
Location
Calico Line, Marton, New Zealand
Coordinates	40.0678°S 175.3980°E / -40.0678; 175.3980
Information
Type	State integrated single sex girls secondary with boarding facilities
Motto	Christo et Ecclesiae "For Christ and Church"
Established	1891
Ministry of Education Institution no.	196
Principal	Roz Mexted
School roll	252
Socio-economic decile	9
Website	www.ngatawa.school.nz

Nga Tawa Diocesan School, also known as the Wellington Diocesan School for Girls, is an integrated, Anglican girls’ boarding school situated in the heart of the Rangitikei. It is found just outside the township of Marton in New Zealand.

History

The school was founded near Shannon in 1891, by Mary Taylor. She named her school Nga Tawa because of the tawa trees that grew nearby. In 1909, the school relocated from Shannon to Calico Line, where it stands today. The original buildings were burnt to the ground in 1924. Today, the school has roughly 250 pupils, most of whom are boarders. The school also accepts a small number of international students.

The boarding facilities at Nga Tawa are unique. In years 9 to 11 (13 to 15 years old) the students live in 'Main Block'. Here they are housed in rooms of two to six. Every year group has their own common room. In years 11 and 12 (15–17 years of age) the boarders live in 'Marshall House' in individual rooms. Year 13 (17–18 years of age) live in cottages that house five to eight students. These cottages give the boarders a chance to develop independence in a flatting type situation.

Co-curricular

Nga Tawa's students participate in a wide variety of sports and performs well across a range of sporting disciplines. The Sports Department is highly motivated to achieve sporting excellence. It has an Equestrian Centre with stabling for up to 80 horses. It has a dressage arena, a full-sized showjumping arena, 1200m all weather canter track and a full cross-country course.

There are also many other cultural activities offered at the school. Nga Tawa students appear in everything from school and local musicals to performances in the Shakespeare competition. Many students take Speech and Drama lessons and the school also has many talented debaters.

Academic

The school offers the International Baccalaureate exams as well as the New Zealand NCEA exams.

Notable alumni

• Judy Bailey - former television newsreader
• Kloe Palmer - TV3 reporter

External links

• Nga Tawa School Website