Extracurricular Activities
Dear Parents,
Please find below information pertaining to extracurricular activities that start early in the 2024 academic year, at the same time your son joins Auckland Grammar School.
Involvement in extracurricular activities plays a vital role in the all-round development of your son. Being involved and committed to School life is important for each young man as he will learn more about himself, our values and expectations.
When your son starts at Auckland Grammar, many messages will be shared with him at Assembly including registration processes for summer sporting codes.
Parents will also be able to read these daily messages on our website or on GrammarNet. Most registrations for summer sports will take place in the first few weeks of Term 1. Winter sports registrations will take place towards the end of Term 1.
Several summer sports codes would like to begin a pre-registration process which will assist them in their planning, team entries and trial processes. Likewise several Performing Arts groups have a pre-registration process.
All other sports and activities will begin their registration processes after the School year starts. Please refer to the information listed below or if you have any further questions, feel free to contact the School via email at admin@ags.school.nz.
Performing Arts
Auckland Grammar offers young men the opportunity to perform through numerous music groups, cultural groups, school productions, theatre, drama and debating.
Being part of a Performing Arts Group at Auckland Grammar School offers an amazing opportunity to showcase their culture, talents, and skills across a variety of stages and platforms. These groups give students access to high quality tuition, heavily subsidised music lessons and a diverse range of performance opportunities.
Many of our groups perform at Regional and National events and competitions such as the KKB Music Festival and the National Jazz Festival.
All of these group are also featured in regular school based events (Major production, Cultural Nights, Winter Concerts and more).
Cultural Groups
Auckland Grammar School is fortunate to have a number of different cultural groups at the School, reflecting the rich cultural diversity of the Grammar community.
The young men involved demonstrate pride in their cultural heritage through assembly performances, cultural evenings and local competitions. Cultural groups include Kapa Haka, Pasifika, Sri Lankan, Korean, Asian and Indian.
Music Performance Groups
We have a diverse range of award-winning performance groups. Most of the groups are auditioned, and require students to play particular combinations of instruments, and to be proficient enough to play demanding music. This means that it is important that your son chooses instruments that will allow them to progress into groups that they wish to play in. More details about the following groups can be found here.
Groups include:
- Symphony Orchestra
- Grammar Virtuosi (Chamber Orchestra)
- Premier Concert Band
- Big Band
- Wind Band
- Pipe Band and Drum Corps
- Jazz Combo
- Grammarphonics (Chamber Choir)
- Grammar Voices
- Rock Bands
- Chamber Music ensembles
For more information about Music lessons or any of the listed musical groups, please refer to the Music section of the School website.
Instrumental and Singing Music Lessons
Students are able to learn a number of different instruments in small groups, taught by high quality instrumental and vocal teachers. Most of our teachers are professional or ex-professional players and all rank alongside the best teachers in New Zealand.
We offer lessons in violin, viola, cello, double bass, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone (all types), bassoon, orchestral percussion, bagpipes/pipe band drumming, voice and theory. Please note that we do not offer instruments which require individual lessons such as piano or drum kit.
Drama, Theatre and Production
Auckland Grammar School has a long history of supporting and showcasing the talents of our students in the field of Drama, Theatre and Production. Every year our boys can participate in a Major Production either hosted here at school or with our sister schools. Student Run Productions also enables our boys to further develop their writing, acting, backstage and production skills.
The TheatreSports team is a small but enthusiastic group of students who are ready and willing to test their abilities to work together, to take risks, to think on-the-spot and to put their imaginations on the line. TheatreSports is a competitive form of group improvisation and is always stimulating, entertaining and lots of fun.
Debating
Auckland Grammar School has a proud and distinguished history in debating and public speaking. The Auckland Schools Debating (ASD) Competition is the largest regular debating competition operating in New Zealand and has produced some of the most successful debaters in the country over the past three years.
Cricket – pre-registration
Any student who wishes to play Cricket for Auckland Grammar School in 2024 is requested to pre-register now. Click here to find out more information about playing Cricket and how you can sign up your son.
By pre-registering, the Cricket community will include him in all pre-season communications in particular regarding trials, which historically commence in the last week of January holidays. Pre-registration is merely an obligation-free indication of your interest but it assists greatly with planning for the new year.
Cricket in the Junior School (Forms 3 and 4) includes our Colts teams (playing on Saturday afternoons) and the A grade teams (playing T20 on Saturday mornings).
Cricket in the Senior School (Forms 5-7) includes the 1st – 6th XI teams (they play on Saturday afternoons) and the A grade teams (playing T20 on Saturday mornings).
Cricket staff contact details are as follows:
Cycling
Are you interested in Cycling? Do you want to join a fun sport and make new friends?
The School’s Road and Track Cycling squad is made up of students from all year levels; past members of the squad have represented New Zealand at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games. Joining the squad is a great way to meet others and keep fit in a fun and exciting sport.
No racing experience is necessary, with a Learn to Race programme starting in Term 1 focusing on cycling racing skills and a meeting for interested students in Week 2. We will also be running a cycling session during the Sports Day.
If you are interested, registrations open in Term 1. See the Cycling page for more information.
Master in Charge of Cycling: J. Fry – email
Rowing
Calling all potential rowers and coxswains! This is a no obligation chance to be a part of one of Auckland Grammar School’s pre-eminent sports. Rowing is a great way to meet new friends, gain attention from American Ivy League Universities, and keep fit in a unique and exciting way.
Auckland Grammar Rowing has a proud history of students going on to New Zealand success and the Olympics, and we would love for you to be a part of it. In 2024, we are looking for:
- Any students who are looking for a new challenge; and
- Students who are short and light, would make a good coxswain and leader for the group
Upon signing up, you will become a part of New Zealand’s most successful Olympic sport and train alongside your friends towards becoming a potential New Zealand Secondary Schools Champion at the Maadi Cup. For more information, you can follow us on Facebook.
No previous experience is necessary to join. We start a Learn to Row programme from Term 1-3 to give the boys a taste of what rowing is like, before trails and selections in Term 3. We will be running a meeting for all interested students in the first week of school, and will be running a Learn to Row session on the rowing machines during the Sports Day, occurring on Day 2.
Master in Charge of Rowing: M. Gaspar – email
Swimming
The School Swimming Championships will be held on Thursday 8 February 2024. The events are 50, 100 and 200m freestyle, 50 and 100m backstroke and breaststroke, 50m butterfly and 200m individual medley. Entries for these events are open to all swimmers.
There are three age groups as follows:
- Junior – 13 years and under as at 1 January 2024
- Intermediate – 14 and 15 years as at 1 January 2024
- Senior – 16, 17 and 18 years as at 1 January 2024
Zone and Auckland Championships take place later in Term 1 and National Championships are in Term 3. Entry to these events is based on qualifying times.
An official entry form will be provided at the start of the 2023 academic year. This form will require competitors to indicate a personal best time (if known) alongside the events they wish to enter. No pre-registration is required.
Master in Charge of Swimming: J. Potaka – email
Tennis – pre-registration
Each year Auckland Grammar School contributes a large number of teams to the Auckland Secondary Schools Tennis Competition. There are two age groups (Senior and Junior) with all Form 3 and 4 players in the Junior Grade.
There are six players to a team (except for the Premier A1 and the Senior A2) and the teams are grouped according to whether the players are strongly competitive in which case they will trial for A teams, or more social where they can be grouped with friends or classmates if they wish. Every student enrolled will be placed in a team.
There will be at least six Saturday mornings that students will need to commit to during Term 1. Unfortunately, Cricket is also on Saturday mornings so players cannot do both. Registration for Tennis teams will open early in 2024 and there will be notices in assembly about Tennis during the first week.
The School also offers a comprehensive Tennis Development Programme at Ngatira Tennis Club via the excellent coaching team of Sparta Tennis Academy.
Pre-registrations for students wishing to play Tennis in Term 1, 2024 are now open – click here to fill in the form.
Water Polo
Water Polo is a strong sport at Auckland Grammar School with over 70 students playing in both senior and junior competitions or tournaments. The School’s Premier 1 side has a proud history winning six national and many Auckland titles..
Any students who would like to play Water Polo for a School team in 2024 are asked to express their interest by emailing their full name and email address to the Master in Charge of Water Polo.
This expression of interest will mean that your son will be included in all communications regarding trials and competition information. It is anticipated that the trials will be held within the first two weeks of Term 1.
Term 1 is the senior competition, with our top juniors playing in lower senior grades, while Term 4 is a junior only competition. Those selected for the Junior A and B teams will compete in the North Island Secondary Schools Tournament at the end of the year.
Each Water Polo team has a dedicated coach who will work with each team once or twice a week in the evenings over Terms 1 and 4. Swimming training is also available on scheduled mornings which will take place in the new outdoor pool, with times to be confirmed.
Master in Charge of Water Polo: J. Potaka – email