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On Wednesday 16 October, the School’s Cycling squad competed in their last race of the season – the Norman Carter Challenge Cup 2mile Grass Track race, which was held on the No. 1 field in ideal conditions on a good surface.

The senior race was a two-horse battle with the lead regularly changing hands between captain of Cycling J. A. J. Barclay (pictured above in front) and Form 7 student Z. F. Wyllie. Wyllie pulled ahead during the second half of the race and completed the last three laps on his own to take the victory.

There was a large turnout of Form 3 and 4 students who had their first experience of racing on a grass track. They got lots of encouragement from the students who were seated on the terraces under the Old Boys’ Pavilion. With the inclusion of a number of mountain bikers, the race got off to a fantastic start with Form 4 student M. D. Allan building on his lead after each lap. There were various contests throughout the field with positions changing continually, with Allan the eventual victor.

Both races were held in a friendly and competitive spirit and served as a great ending to a good cycling season. Z. F. Wyllie and M. D. Allan will receive their respective trophies at Prizegiving during the last week of Term 4.

Special thanks to the Masters in Charge and the coaches for their ongoing support and guidance of the squad this year.

Our thanks to parents who drew our attention to a recent opinion piece in the media that used incorrect university entrance data to report what your sons achieved academically in 2023. As the School offers a dual qualification pathway, our actual achievement rates are often misrepresented in a number of public domains. Given this, you may find a further copy of the School’s reported 2023 achievement data useful.

University Entrance

Of the entire 2023 Form 7 cohort (485 students), 87.8% gained University Entrance.

Cambridge Results

• The overall pass rate at A level was 99.4%
• The overall pass rate at AS Level was 91.0%

NCEA

• 72% of students gained NCEA Level 2 certificates
• 72% of NCEA Level 3 students were awarded NCEA Level 3

NZQA Scholarship

In NZQA Scholarship examinations, our young men gained 217 individual subject scholarships, which is the highest number the School has achieved in a single year.

At the NZQA Top Scholar Awards:

• Three students were named as Premier Scholars (out of only 10 awarded nationally);
• Nine students received Outstanding Scholarship Awards (out of 60 awarded nationally); and
• Four students earned Top Subject Scholar Awards (out of 37 subjects)

Of interest:

• The School’s University Entrance attainment rate has increased in the last three years
• The total number of Cambridge Outstanding Learner Awards has increased in the last three years and the School has been one of the top two schools in New Zealand during this time
• The total number of Scholarship awards has increased in the last three years and the School has been one of the top three schools in New Zealand during this time

Dear Parents / Guardians,

Following my recent comments on radio on how important it is that students attend daily and present themselves ready to learn, I wanted to share with you three thoughts about the reasons why schools exist.

These thoughts come from Gert Biesta, Professor of Educational Theory and Pedagogy at the University of Edinburgh, and they align with our educational philosophy, which has stood the test of time, and is intended to develop anti-fragility in your sons. As Biesta argues, Schools should exist for three main reasons:

1. Qualification
2. Socialisation
3. Subjectification

In our context, these three reasons help build anti-fragility in our students and are critical in helping us to achieve our aim of better preparing them to be contributing members of our society.

1. Qualification
   I am sure you are aware we take our primary responsibility to educate your sons seriously. This includes teaching in a manner that helps them to acquire new knowledge across a well-defined curriculum. The Term 3 internal examination series that seniors are about to begin is a timely example of the School’s examination-based approach from Form 3, which prepares students to understand that their acquisition of knowledge will be regularly assessed, so that we can provide them with the support to consolidate their learning and experience success in internal and external assessments.
2. Socialisation
   In our context, socialisation is most tangible in how we teach The Grammar Way, including what it means to be a Grammar boy. We aim to initiate our young men in ways of being and doing. That includes, but is not limited to: how they interact with their peers and teachers, understanding how to listen, when to speak, how to act in a formal setting such as assembly, how to be an effective spectator, and even the art of a handshake.
3. Subjectification
   Subjectification refers to education impacting positively on students. That is, we want young men to show initiative, accept responsibility and be masters of their own destiny, rather than solely respond to the actions of others.

This is perhaps more important than ever before in our 155-year history. We aim to help young men understand they are part of something bigger than themselves, and to show them how this feeling of belonging can aid their personal development. In our environment we want students to accept responsibility readily and use their initiative in a variety of ways, knowing that the structure surrounding them will be a constant they can rely on. We would rather this, than young men following what they observe as seemingly acceptable behaviours and language in wider society, or on social media platforms.

I raise these few points with you because it is through being present, in person, on a daily basis that some of the finer points of your son’s education can be learned. These things are much harder to learn in an online context. Through regular attendance students develop relationships with specialist teachers in our classrooms and this extends to your son’s interactions as a member of sports teams, clubs, or one of the many groups they can join.

It is important that young men believe in themselves and the work they have done to date, have faith in their teachers and continue surrounding themselves with good people for support. As seniors begin the Term 3 Examination series they should remind themselves that the anti-fragility or resilience they have learnt through their time at Grammar will aid their performances, and it will continue to help them become the person they want to be after their examinations.

Those who make sacrifices to prepare thoroughly for assessments – whether in the pending senior examination series or with Form 3-5 assessments – and those with self-belief and ready access to support, have every opportunity to achieve a personal best and their potential.

We thank parents who continue to work with us, across a myriad of contexts, including curricular and extracurricular areas, to grow your sons’ anti-fragility and independence. Through your support and ours, they will reap the short and long-term personal benefits.

Tim O’Connor
Headmaster

Congratulations

Last week, a number of our Premier and Development sports teams competed in regional or national tournaments throughout New Zealand for Winter Tournament Week. In summary, our teams performed as follows:

• 1st XI Hockey – 13th at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships (the Rankin Cup)
• 1st XI Football- winners of the Rex Dawkins Satellite Tournament
• Cycling team – three national age group titles at the Northern Tour
• Fencing – third in the Team Sabre at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships
• Junior Premier Basketball – winners of the National Zone 1 Tournament
• Premier Badminton – runners-up at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships
• Premier Basketball – winners of the Zone 1 Secondary Schools Championships
• Premier Table Tennis – winners of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships
• Under 15 Rugby – third at the National Invitational Tournament
• Weightlifting – a Silver and Bronze placing at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships

There are a number of sports teams still to compete in their National Championship competitions over the coming weeks and the Term 3 holidays; we wish them well with their preparation and performances.

Thank you

In order to achieve at the level we do in a variety of extracurricular activities, we rely on the goodwill of teachers, parents and Old Boys to assist us in a variety of ways. 

Our sincere thanks are extended to all who have coached, managed and supported our young men throughout this winter season. The value of such support is immeasurable.

Senior School (Internal) Examinations

The Term 3 School Examinations will take place from Friday 13 – Friday 20 September. These examinations are held for all Form 6 and 7 students, and for a select number of Form 5 students who are sitting NCEA Level 1 assessments.

All Form 6 and 7 students will be on Study Leave during the Term 3 School examination period, when they do not have scheduled exams. Form 5 parents have already received information via email outlining any applicable leave for Form 5 students. The majority of Form 5 students are unaffected by this examination period and will be in their regular teaching classes.

Please refer to the Examination Timetable that has been posted on GrammarNet and the School website for details.

Cambridge Examinations and End of Term Arrangements

The Cambridge Examination Timetable for October/November 2024 is available on GrammarNet and the School website. Note that this timetable will be updated with rooming schedules and exam clash arrangements by the end of Term 3 and it will also be handed out to students at their Examination Briefing.

It is important to note that there are a small number of Cambridge examinations on in the holidays (AS and A Level French and Further Mathematics) and several large examinations early in Week 1 Term 4 (namely, AS Mathematics, Accounting, Business Studies, Chemistry, Economics, French, History, Japanese, Physics and Spanish, and A Level French, Mathematic and Spanish).

In order to have students better prepared for these exams, the entire Term 3 School Examinations are scheduled predominantly in Week 9 so that students can have the papers marked and returned for review and feedback during Week 10 of this term.

Examination Briefings will also be held in the Centennial Theatre for all students sitting Cambridge AS and A Level examinations on the afternoon of Friday 27 September (the last day of Term 3).

These Examination Briefings are compulsory for all students studying Cambridge AS and A Level courses, as it is essential that all students are fully informed about examination procedures. Students will also receive their official Cambridge Statements of Entry, which are required to gain entry to each examination room. Importantly, there will be no other opportunities to pick up this documentation, unless your son is absent on 27 September for an approved reason.

Briefing times are as follows:

• Period 6 – students in 7A-7H
• Period 7 – students in 6A-6I (and Form 5 students doing AS Mathematics)

Students in these Form 6 and 7 Cambridge classes will be released for Study Leave following their Examination Briefing.

Students studying Pre-Q and NCEA courses will attend their Examination Briefings in Term 4 prior to going on Study Leave.

Cambridge Certificates

Cambridge certificates are issued after results are published and the certificates for the November examinations will arrive in school in March next year. Cambridge certificates are unique documents, and they are expensive to replace.

Students who are still at School in 2025 will receive their certificates in person. School leavers will be contacted when certificates are ready for collection from School, but if it will not be possible to collect certificates in person, you can arrange for your certificate to be couriered to an address you specify. The arrangements for this facility can be confirmed here or via the link available on students’ GrammarNet dashboard.

Subject Options Selections for 2025

Subject Options selections for 2025 have now been received from almost all current students who are returning in 2025.

Students who have selected subjects for which they are not eligible will be contacted and asked to re-select as soon as possible.

Students who forget what they have selected can log in to the School Portal and select ‘2025’ as the period to check their selections.

If a student wishes to change their subject options selections for 2025, they should contact Academic Administration via email and specify the change they wish to request. Note that not all changes will be possible at this stage. The cut-off date for requesting changes in this manner will be Friday 27 September. Thereafter, the date for students to make any changes to their options selections, following the release of external examination results, is Thursday 16 January 2025. Students may contact their year-level Deans for 2025 to request assistance or an appointment.

Student Attendance – Notification of Absences

A reminder that if your son is absent, we ask you to promptly complete the Absence Notification e-form that is accessed within the Parent Portal on the day of his absence. This is a legal requirement and is part of our duty of care which we cannot fulfil without your co-operation.

Parents should be aware that submitting an e-form verifies your son’s absence and will generate an automatic response to the email address you have provided us.

There is no longer a requirement to phone the School or to provide a written note on the day of your son’s return.

Students leaving our campus during School hours

Parents are reminded students are not allowed to leave the School grounds during school hours unless:

• Your son has brought a letter or an appointment card to the Deputy Headmaster on the front steps after assembly. Your son will then be provided with an approval slip, allowing him to formally sign out at the Student Office prior to leaving the campus; or
• For medical reasons, whereby your son must have permission from the Deputy Headmaster or from the School Nurse. In such cases, the School Nurse will contact you before your son leaves the School grounds

School Donation

Our thanks are extended to over 65% of parents who have paid the donation already. This provides genuine and much needed financial support for our young men and teachers.

While parents will be aware the donation is voluntary, many parents may not understand where these funds are used and how important they are to maintaining our educational standards. 

One specific area the School donation goes is to directly fund an additional seven teachers, to what the government provides, so that we can maintain as many curriculum pathways through to Form 7 as is practical.

We appreciate your support.

As we approached Winter Tournament Week, winter sports seasons concluded and numerous teams across codes experienced considerable success. On Wednesday 11 September, the School recognised teams who won their grade in an Auckland Secondary Schools competition.

Basketball

The Under 17A and Junior A Basketball teams qualified for the Greater Auckland Championships. Both teams progressed through pool play and the semi-finals into their respective finals. The Junior A team lost to a dominant side from Westlake Boys’ High School while the Under 17 A team secured an Auckland Championship with a 63-33 victory over Northcote College.

Football

The 14A1 Football team had a strong season, being undefeated in their competition. The team did draw their first game of their season against Westlake Boys’ High School won their next 12 games to win the grade with a game to spare, scoring 55 goals and conceding only 10 in the process.

Hockey

The Under 15A Hockey team won all 10 games of their regular season to earn a place in the Auckland final against Macleans College. In the final, the team had a 2-0 lead before the game was delayed due to lighting. However, the team showed composure after the break and consolidated their lead with two more goals to win 4-0 and secure the Auckland title.

The other standout team across the Hockey season was the Senior Blue team, who went undefeated to win the Senior C Grade.

The captains of the Under 17A Basketball team (Form 7 student G. G. Allan), the 14A1 Football team (Form 4 student W. I. Walker) and the Under 15A Hockey team (Form 4 student C. M. Pooley, pictured above) crossed stage to receive their respective cups and the School’s congratulations on Wednesday morning.

Rugby

The recent Auckland Rugby finals day saw an impressive seven teams qualify for finals across six grades.

In the 7th Grade, the previously unbeaten 7A faced a determined side from Sacred Heart College in the final. The team defended exceptionally well in the torrid conditions to win the Auckland title with a 12-0 win and remain undefeated.

In the 6th Grade final against King’s College, 6A fought tirelessly and carried strongly, in torrential rain in the first half to lead 5-0 lead at half time. After the break, improved conditions and the team’s kicking game helped them score a further three tries to win 22-0 and cap an unbeaten season as Auckland Champions.

In the 5th Grade, 5A also played King’s College in what was expected to be a tight final. Conceding an average of 6.5 points per game throughout the season, the team knew that if they could build a lead they would remain in the game. After a slow start, a penalty and a converted try just before half time gave them a 10-0 lead. They added a penalty to the score line in the second half to seal the victory 13-0.

In the 4th Grade, the School had teams contesting both the A and B grade finals. The 4A team had a superb season, moving through to the final undefeated, however, they finished as runners-up, losing 3-8 to Sacred Heart College in the final. The 4B Blue team had a similarly dominant season and played exceptionally well in their final against Green Bay High School to claim the title with a 10-8 win.

The Under 14A team improved throughout the season. After beating St Peter’s College 30-15 in the semi-final, they displayed commitment to avenge their only regular season loss with a 26-23 win over Kelston Boys’ High School in the final.

The Under 15A team had a focus on defence to start the season which showed as they conceded just three points in their first eight games. A midseason comeback win against Kelston Boys’ High School from 22-3 down at half time was defining and set up a rematch in the final against Kelston. The team played with control and accuracy to record a 12-8 victory and secure the Auckland title.

The captains of the 7A team (Form 4 student F. T. Lindesay), the 6A team (Form 4 student R. M. Rackham), the 5A team (Form 6 student H. W. Symonds), the Under 14A team (Form 3 Student W. W. Bracewell) and the Under 15A team (Form 4 student C. N Murdoch) all crossed stage on Wednesday morning to receive their respective cups and the School’s congratulations on behalf of their teams.

The final term of the year is one that requires students to make sacrifices in order to give their studies, assessments and external examinations a primary focus, as it is a very short term.

While we will communicate with all parents as Term 4 begins, we do want to remind parents of some key dates and commitments in advance:

• Friday 25 October – Students sitting NCEA and Pre-Q examinations released on study leave
• Tuesday 29 October – Friday 8 November – Pre-Q Examinations
• Tuesday 5 November – NCEA External Examinations start
• Monday 11 – Friday 15 November – Form 3 and 4 School Examinations
• Thursday 24 – Wednesday 30 November – Form 3 and 4 Activities Week Programme
• Tuesday 3 December – Form 5-7 students return to School
• Tuesday 3 December – Colours and Performing Arts Assembly
• Wednesday 4 December – Leavers Dinner
• Thursday 5 December – Prizegiving, beginning at 9am. After the Prizegiving, the 2024 School year will conclude

As Colours and Prizegiving awards are prepared months in advance, all young men should understand that accolades will only be awarded to those who continue to embrace our standards and requirements.

Please also remember we will not grant exemptions for students to go on holiday before Thursday 5 December. It is expected that all students will attend Prizegiving and collect School reports, and other year end materials after the 2024 Prizegiving.

Junior School Activities Week

After the Junior examinations, Form 3 and Form 4 have an organised activities ‘week’ programme. Parents of Form 3 and 4 students will be sent specific information about this year’s activities as Term 4 starts.

This year’s programme is once again aligned with a number of curriculum areas and the activities run will be practical and focused on areas of the curriculum that are not easily managed in a standard classroom environment.

We see this week as a key part of our programme for Form 3 and 4 students and attendance is compulsory.

In the second week of August, Auckland Grammar School was represented by six groups at the annual KBB Music Festival, held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral and St Mary’s Cathedral in Parnell. The groups all performed exceptionally well, with the quality of the awards reflecting their hard work and talent.

The Symphony Orchestra presented a powerful and thought-provoking 2nd movement from Symphony No. 5 by Dmitri Shostakovich and a delightful musical journey through Chocolate Symphony by Maxim Goulet. The Symphony Orchestra was considered a special award for Best Performance of a New Zealand Work by Jenny McLeod’s Three Celebrations for the Orchestra I. Journey through Mountain Parklands and for the Best Performance in New Zealand Work and Best Performance in Romantic Work by N. Rimsky-Korsakov Capriccio Espagnol Op 34, IV, V.  The group received a Silver award for their programme of work.

The Premier Concert Band (pictured above) performed three movements from Bohemian Revelry by Adam Gorb – Furiant, Sousedska and Skocna. Each piece brought a different flavour of Bohemian folk music, from the lively and vigorous to the more measured and reflective. Their set culminated in the world premiere of Skydome by Old Boy Ki Hoon Sung ’13. Their set resulted in a well-deserved Silver award.

Performing in St Mary’s Cathedral, the Big Band performed Agua de Beber, an arrangement of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s famous Latin chart. They then played the well-known swing hit I Can’t Stop Loving You. Senior Prefect M. T. Upu took the reins, leading the band in Stevie Wonder’s Isn’t She Lovely, with a Tenor Saxophone solo. The Big Band’s final piece was an up-tempo rendition of T.O.P. Adjacent, where the audience heard the full tones and abilities of Form 7 student F. G. D. Gardner in his Alto Saxophone solo with S. Ma on guitar. The group received a Bronze Award

Grammar Virtuosi performed Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence, Op. 70, III, a beautiful reflection of the composer’s time spent in the enchanting Italian city, then the lively and energetic String Quartet No.12, American by A Dvořák. Douglas Lilburn’s Diversions For String Orchestra I, IV was a delightful exploration of the New Zealand landscape, and was considered for the special award for Best Performance of a New Zealand work. J. S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, I Allegro was also considered the Best Performance in a Baroque Work. In addition, the group also received a Silver Award.

The Wind Band received a Commended Award for their programme. The group performed Shaftoe’s Hoe-Down by Malcolm Binney, Dance of the Fir Darrig, Joan for the Road by Ferga Carroll and Incandescence by Richard Saucedo. 

The developing string ensemble Concertante debuted this year as a non-competitive category.  They successfully performed Highlights from Harry Potter by John Williams, Funky Pizzicato by Susan Day, Waltz No. 2 by D. Shostakovich and La vaguelette from Genshin Impact by Hoyo-Mix.

Badminton

At the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships, the Premier Badminton team placed second after a closely contested final against Hamilton Boys’ High School. The team lost 4-2 after winning one of the doubles matches and one of the singles matches. This was the team’s only loss of the tournament and shows how well they performed throughout the week.

Basketball

At the Junior Basketball Northern Regional Championships, the Under 15 Basketball team were named the Northern Regional Champions on Tuesday 3 September after defeating Westlake Boys’ High School 122-117 in a hard fought final.

On Saturday 7 September, the Premier Basketball team played St Kentigern College in the semi-final of the Zone 1 Regional Qualifying Tournament, winning 107-68 to progress to the final. The team once again met Rosmini College and performed as they did in the Auckland final, winning 124-88. The win sees them qualify well for the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships in Palmerston North in the Term 3 holidays.

Cycling

Over the course of the two-day Northern Tour, the Cycling team performed well in the Individual Time Trial and a Hill climb up Mt Wellington on Saturday 7 September and the Criterium on Sunday 8 September.

In the Time Trial:

• Form 3 student J. Ha was third in the Under 14 race
• Form 4 student M. D. Allan was first in the Under 16 race
• Form 5 student E. D. Corbett was third in the Under 17 race
• In the Under 20 race, Form 6 student C. P. Wagener and Form 7 students B. C. Pawson and Z. F. Wyllie were second, fourth and fifth respectively

In the Hill Climb the School won national titles across three age groups:

• M. D. Allan in the Under 16 race
• Form 6 student J. Kwon in the Under 17 race
• C. P. Wagener in the Under 20 race

In the Criterium, Form 4 student J. L. Turnbull was first in the Under 16B race, Form 5 student N. C. Merrill was first in the Under 17B race, J. Kwon was first in the Under 17A race and Z. F. Wyllie was third in the Under 20A race.

Fencing

At the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships, the Fencing team earned bronze.

Football

In the Hawkes Bay competing at the Rex Dawkins Satellite Tournament, the 1st XI Football (pictured above) qualified for the semi-final where they beat Paraparaumu College 2-1 to progress to the final on Friday 6 September.

The team met Hastings Boys’ High School, who they had drawn with in pool play. The team was ahead 1-0 at half-time and extended that lead in the second half to win the final 2-0.

Hockey

At the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rankin Cup Tournament, the 1st XI Hockey team played Wairarapa College on Friday, winning 2-1 to play off for 13th place. On Saturday they met Hastings Boys’ High School who they beat 3-2 to secure 13th place overall out of the 32 teams who qualified.

Rugby

The Under 15 Rugby team qualified for the semi-final at the National Invitational Tournament in Tauranga, where they played against hosts Tauranga Boys’ College on their home field. In a closely fought match the team led 14-10, to eventually lose the fixture 25-14. The team played Westlake Boys’ High School for third place, winning 27-10 to finish their tournament well.

Table Tennis

The Premier Table Tennis team was named the New Zealand Secondary Schools Champions for 2024. The team had dominant wins over Kristin School in the quarter-final (4-0) and St Kentigern College in the semi-final (4-0), before playing Pinehurst School in the final, which they won 4- 0. The team won 30 out of 31 matches to claim the New Zealand Secondary Schools team title.

In the Individual Championships Form 4 student H. X. Jiang won Gold in the Under 15 competition and Form 6 student Y. B. Zhang earned Bronze in the Under 19 competition.

Weightlifting

At the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships Form 4 student F. T. M. Duncan earned Silver in the Under 15 67kg class and Form 6 student D. D. N. Mistry earned Bronze in the Open 81kg class. All four lifters who represented the School achieved personal bests.

Congratulations are extended to all students who represented the School at their respective regional and national championships this year. Thanks also to the staff members who gave of their time to coach, manage and mentor teams and individuals during these championship events, and in the seasons that led to the opportunity to compete regionally or nationally.

The 1st XI Hockey team played Westlake Boys’ High School in the playoff match for third and fourth place of the Super City Competition at North Harbour Stadium on Wednesday 28 August.

This was the third fixture between both teams this season, with the 1st XI Hockey team losing 1-0 away in round one, and drawing 1-1 in the return fixture in round two.

The team opened the scoring through a field goal by Form 7 student E. R. Stoddart in the opening few minutes of the game which was followed by a well-executed penalty by captain H. C. Stewart just before the end of the first quarter.

The team created numerous opportunities and maintained a structured and disciplined in defence in the remaining three quarters of the fixture, securing a 2-0 victory and third place overall for the season.

The 1st XI team now turns their attention to the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships (their Rankin Cup campaign) during Winter Tournament Week.