PRINCIPAL’S REPORT TO TAURANGA BOYS' COLLEGE OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION

23rd September 2020

2020 has been a particularly challenging year with the obvious demands that COVID-19 has placed on us.  I am confident the school has managed the challenges well and that the school is in good heart.

We started the year with over 2000 students and an increasingly diverse roll and continue to be the 3rd largest school of Maori Boys in NZ with 26% of our roll Māori.  Our projections for 2021 are for similar roll growth and a start to the year with a Year 9 group of 480 students.  Academically the college had a great year last year with our best ever results in NCEA - Level, 1 80.4% against national results of 67.3%; Level 2, 84.5% against national results of 74.9% and Level 3, 71% against national results of 62.2%.  Overall the college gained 24 scholarships.  Throughout this year a number of our students have passed university papers, quite a number with outstanding results such as A+.  A number of our boys are likely to complete 2020 with four A+ in stage one university papers.  

In sport the year has been quite fragmented with the COVID-19 crisis however, as a direct benefit of being part of the NZ Super 8 Schools Association we have had a large number of our students involved in tournaments, both at junior and senior level.  This is one of the only areas where we have been able to provide elite sporting competition.  We gained 1st place in junior hockey and football whilst gaining 3rd place in senior football, basketball and badminton. In the two national tournaments we were able to compete in: Water Polo and Squash, we were runners up. 

In the cultural arena the events have been somewhat curtailed by COVID-19. A number of events have had to be cancelled however, we did hold a day showcasing the arts.  A video has been produced with a link to this available on our school website.  I am excited to announce that next year ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ will be our school production.  This will be of interest to a number of our old boys who performed in an earlier production of Jesus Christ held by the college.  

In regards to property, we look forward to a new 12-classroom block being established on the existing car park, the car park closest to the cricket nets will be extended and the cricket nets will be relocated.  We have four of our major classroom blocks requiring remedial work for water tightness and we look forward to this progressing as soon as possible.  The wheels of property turn very slowly with the Ministry of Education.  We are also looking to replace the Nicholson Field changing rooms, looking to site them on Prefabs 11, 12 and 13 incorporating a fitness centre and Old Boys pavilion / teaching space on top of the existing changing room and fitness facility.  This is likely to be a capital fundraising project and we will work in collaboration with Titans and the Old Boys Association to generate support for this major project.  

I am delighted to report on the final findings of the Education Review Office.  The overall evaluation for Tauranga Boys’ College performance in achieving valued outcomes for its students was ‘Strong’.  This is the highest possible grading that is given to a school and a number of comments were made about the key strengths of the school including: 

• Effective leadership practices that have established a collaborative and empowerment culture for learning
• Purposeful connections with whanau and wider community that enhances meaningful learning pathways
• An inclusive and caring culture focused on wellbeing that celebrates success and embraces diversity
• Broad curriculum pathways that are responsive to students’ interests, learning needs and aspirations to facilitate equitable and excellent outcomes.

In conclusion, I can report that Tauranga Boys’ College is going from strength to strength, building on the legacy of those who have gone before.  The vast majority of our staff contribute to the broad, rich and engaging curriculum that we are able to offer and we are very proud of the achievement of our Old Boys. What other school in the country can claim the captain of the Black Caps, the All Blacks and the America’s cup winning team. We are well placed to meet the needs of our boys in the future, whilst our current students are fine ambassadors to the college, to  themselves and their whānau.

Robert Mangan

Principal

My thanks to the Old Boys Association for their ongoing support of the college.

Robert Mangan

Principal