South Westland Area School 1

Ms Tracey Johnston

Our staff are considered as one unit so that strengths of individual teachers can be used across a wide range of classes. We have unified programmes throughout. The flexibility and continuity gained from these two features give the area school advantages over primary, intermediate and secondary schools. We provide a pleasant, peaceful, happy environment for students and staff. We expect all our staff to encourage students to be happy at school. We hope all staff will set a good example by their professional attitude and pleasant demeanour.

We endeavour to be seen as representing the whole of South Westland in our senior school. Boarders are able to live locally during the week and travel home during the weekend. This has advantages for parents so that they can keep regular contact with their children. Over the last three years we have developed a satellite unit at Franz Josef School where students study 3 days a week on site completing correspondence based courses and travel to South Westland Area School for two days a week studying Technology, Physical Education, Social Studies and the Arts.

The school recognises the unique nature of the area including aspects of the community such as hospitality and friendliness. We attempt to reflect these values in the standards we set. The students of the area are quite different from their city counterparts. Both school and community can be proud of our young people.

We have a lot to offer young people. Equipment and facilities at the school give us advantages in some areas, particularly with small classes.

Standards achieved in external exams mean that we can compete with other schools and that our students are not disadvantaged academically or otherwise by staying in South Westland. We are proud of the achievements of our ex-pupils and perhaps our best testimony lies with them.