Papanui High School

Papanui High School
Address
30 Langdons Road, Papanui, Christchurch, New Zealand
Coordinates
Information
Type	State Co-educational Secondary (Year 9-13)
Motto	In Opere Felicitas "Be happy in your work"
Established	1936
Ministry of Education Institution no.	316
Principal	Denis Pyatt
School roll	1600
Socio-economic decile	6
Website	www.papanui.school.nz

Papanui High School (PHS) is a secondary school (years 9-13) in Papanui, a suburb of Christchurch city, New Zealand.

Papanui High School is a coeducational secondary school, located between Northlands Mall and Firestone tyre factory, opposite the Christchurch Sanitarium Health Food Company factory. The school was founded as Papanui Technical College in 1936, but became a 'High School' in 1949. Only recently have older members of the public completely stopped referring to the school as Papanui Technical College.

The current Principal is Denis Pyatt, a linguist, who took over when Ms. M Scott left in 2000. Since his arrival at Papanui, the school's profile has risen significantly in the community. In the past the school has performed poorly in many academic areas, with passing rates for the NZQA National Certificate of Educational Achievement and University Entrance being below average. However grades have risen significantly and NCEA results are now above the national average at Level 1. In 2006 66% of Year 11 students gained NCEA Level 1. That figure has since risen to 70% in 2007 and 75% in 2008. NCEA performance in Level 2 has also reached the national average. A relatively wide selection of subjects with varying degrees of difficulty also encourages success.

There is a strong sense of 'multiculturalism,' advocated by Mr Pyatt, which has seen strengthening Asian, Maori and Island cultures within the school community. Cultural significance in Papanui High School also extends to the performing arts, with a team winning the Subway 2007 Stage Challenge in Christchurch. A long line of successful plays and productions in Papanui's history also mark this cultural vibrance. In 2009 the New Zealand Education Review office came to the school and recommened Papanui High School be shown as an examplar of how a school should be run. E.R.O was so impressed that it would only coming back to Papanui in 5 years rather than its normal 3 years.

Sports

The school succeeds in a number of sports particularly in cricket, touch, and netball. In 2007 both the girls and boys Senior Touch teams qualified for the national championship.

The school has also done well in the IYPT National Physics Fight final held in Wellington gaining 3rd place out of many other schools in the country.

In 2009 the School won the Junior Press Debating Competition.

In 2010 Papanui High-School won the Mclean's Island Hand Loaders Club Inter-school Skeet Shooting Competition against St Bedes College.

Notable alumni

• Andy Caddick - English Cricketer
• Shane Bond - New Zealand Cricketer
• Bruce Wayne - CEO Wayne Enterprises