Western Heights High School
{{short description|State co-educational secondary school in Rotorua, NZ}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox school
| box_width = 250px
| name = Western Heights High School
| native_name = Te Kura Tuarua o Kaitao Rotohokahoka
| seal_image =
| motto = Heights Through Opportunity
{{Langx|mi|Taumata Rau}}
| type = State co-ed secondary
| established = 1961
| sister_school = Beppu Shosei
| educational_authority = Ministry of Education
| address = Old Quarry Road
Selwyn Heights
Rotorua 3015
New Zealand
| coordinates = {{coord|-38.1201|176.2221|region:NZ-BOP_type:edu|display=inline,title}}
| chairperson = Rebecca Moore
| principal = James Bracefield
| teaching_staff = 120+
| years = 9–13
| roll = {{NZ school roll data|151|y||y}} ({{NZ school roll data|||y}})
| houses = {{Uline|c=red|w=5|Ngā Pumanawa e Waru o Te Arawa}}
{{Uline|c=#F5BD1F|w=5|Waiariki}}
{{Uline|c=blue|w=5|Rotorua Nui ā Kahumatamomoe}}
{{Uline|c=green|w=5|Ngongotahā}}
{{Uline|c=purple|w=5|Te Motu Tapu ā Tinirau}}
| colors =
| song = Taumata Rau
| MOE = 151
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.whhs.school.nz/}}
| lastupdate = 25 November 2024
}}
Western Heights High School (Māori: Te Kura Tuarua o Kaitao Rotohokahoka) is a co-educational state secondary school located in the northwestern suburbs of Rotorua, New Zealand. In April 2013, 1,887 students from Years 9 to 13 (ages 12 to 18) attended the school, including 1,172 students identifying as Māori – the largest Māori school roll in New Zealand in terms of number of students.{{cite web |url= http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/directories/list-of-nz-schools |title= New Zealand Schools - Education Counts |publisher= New Zealand Ministry of Education |accessdate= 16 May 2013}}
Western Heights High School offers Cambridge International Examinations in addition to the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA).{{Cite web |title=Assessment |url=https://www.whhs.school.nz/assessment |access-date=24 November 2024 |website=Western Heights High School}}
Houses
Western Heights High School has school houses or groups to identify students and provide a sense of belonging to the school.
The current houses at Western Heights High School are:
- Te Motu Tapu ā Tinirau (Purple)
- Waiāriki (Yellow)
- Ngā Pumanawa e Waru o Te Arawa (Red)
- Ngongotahā (Green)
- Te Rotorua nui ā Kahumatamomoe (Blue)
Sister school
The current sister school to Western Heights High School is Beppu Shosei, a co-educational high school located in Ōita, Japan. The city of Beppu is also the sister city to Rotorua. In August 2024, students from Beppu Shosei visited Western Heights High School for one week on a cultural exchange. In October 2024, 17 students and staff from Western Heights High School attended Beppu Shosei for one week. {{Cite web |title=NZウェスタンハイツ高校の生徒が来校しました |url=https://kou.oita-ed.jp/beppushosei/school/2166/ |access-date=24 November 2024 |website=大分県立別府翔青高等学校}}
International education
Western Heights High School offers international enrolment from a variety of countries. For the year 2025, international student fees to study at Western Heights High School ranges based on duration of the students' duration of stay, travel insurance, NCEA standard admission, student visa renewal, school uniform, school and extra curricular expenses, Christmas holiday fee, and additional recreational expenditure.{{Cite web |title=Haere Mai/Welcome |url=https://www.whhs.school.nz/haere-mai-welcome |access-date=24 November 2024 |website=Western Heights High School}}{{Cite web |title=International Student Fees - 2025 |url=https://www.whhs.school.nz/files/Copy_of_WHHS-Student-Fees-2025.docx.pdf |access-date=24 November 2024 |website=Western Heights High School}}
Curriculum
Western Heights High School currently requires students in the junior school (Years 9 and 10) to take five compulsory courses throughout the year, along with four additional options classes that will alternate throughout two terms. In Year 11, there are four compulsory courses, and in Year 12, the only compulsory course is English. Students in Years 13 and 14 may choose a minimum of five courses.{{Cite web |title=Senior Curriculum |url=https://www.whhs.school.nz/senior-curriculum |access-date=25 November 2024 |website=Western Heights High School}}{{Cite web |title=Curriculum Overview 2023* |url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XOtAYAa5Frem3fYhl3SOwn02HqyILWsx/edit |access-date=25 November 2024 |website=Western Heights High School}}{{Cite web |title=Junior Curriculum |url=https://www.whhs.school.nz/junior-curriculum |access-date=25 November 2024 |website=Western Heights High School}}
| class="wikitable"
!Compulsory Classes !Year 9 !Year 10 !Year 11 !Year 12 !Year 13 |
| English
!• !• !• !• | rowspan="5" | |
| Science
!• !• !• | rowspan="4" | |
| Mathematics
!• !• !• |
| Physical Education and Health
!• !• !• |
| Social Sciences
!• !• | |
= Years 9 & 10 =
In year 9 mainstream, students may choose four of the following elective courses which will alternate after two terms, excluding the Rugby League Academy, Sports Academy, and Volleyball Academy.{{Cite web |title=YEAR 9 OPTIONS 2025 |url=https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tC0p8tzGKdGoPsR9KPKYYekDtiOpn1tu |access-date=28 November 2024 |website=Western Heights High School}}
In year 10 mainstream, students may only choose two elective courses as listed below, where year 10 Te Akoranga Reo Rua students can only choose one subject given Te Reo Māori is compulsory.{{Cite web |title=Year 10 Selection List |url=https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MlK2OHCFgr7VuzlbedCm9GjP6hCqjtKR |access-date=28 November 2024 |website=Western Heights High School}}
- Animation
- Business Innovation
- Chinese
- Contemporary Music
- Dance
- Design & Technical Drawing
- Digital Coding
- Drama
- Fabric Technology
- Food Technology
- French
- Hard Materials: Wood
- Hard Materials: Metal
- Japanese
- Performance Music
- Rugby League Academy
- Spanish
- Sports Academy
- Te Reo Māori
- Visual Arts
- Volleyball Academy
= Year 11 =
In year 11, students may choose to remove social science as a course, and may select two options as listed above, preferably those in which an enjoyment was found throughout years 9 and 10. Students may also choose to study six subjects in year 11, but require approval from the subjects' Head of Faculty and Year Level Dean.{{Cite web |title=Yr 11 Subject Selection |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/12qEVPvd_nmRtLvhWEznEY1BXaKgybJSv/view?usp=drive_link |access-date=28 November 2024 |website=Western Heights High School}}{{Cite web |title=2025 Yr 11 Curriculum.pdf |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JBSk-ze2vxXhqOY-YI9g8GrX29jnnHV1/view?usp=drive_link |access-date=28 November 2024 |website=Western Heights High School}}
= Year 12 =
In year 12, students may choose a further four subjects, with the required mathematics course. Similar to year 11, students may choose to study six subjects, but will require approval from the subjects' Head of Faculty and Year Level Dean.{{Cite web |title=Yr 12 Subject Selection 2025 |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/13-0LjpcwVdjIMnQM4Eg4LZKrqrctmgyl/view?usp=drive_link |access-date=28 November 2024 |website=Western Heights High School}}{{Cite web |title=2025 Yr 12 Curriculum |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/17y7Hy--aLVV-1Z5hWDObC5VO7ChQ1Kz2/view?usp=drive_link |access-date=28 November 2024 |website=Western Heights High School}}
= Year 13 =
In year 13, students may take their desired courses, while adhering to any subject pre-requisites.{{Cite web |title=Yr 13 Subject Selection 2025 |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/134_-fKgaul-nWCX2aTtcwcIFp9tXMWKp/view?usp=drive_link |access-date=28 November 2024 |website=Western Heights High School}}{{Cite web |title=2025 Yr 13 Curriculum |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/16Is5X8tsA8Ohfn9iScvF8pFqu8WWnIUH/view?usp=drive_link |access-date=28 November 2024 |website=Western Heights High School}}
Notable alumni
- Steve McDowall – Rugby Union player (Auckland, All Black){{Cite web |title=Steve McDowall: Great All Black prop and innovator |url=https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/09/21/steve-mcdowall-great-all-black-prop-and-innovator/ |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=The Roar |language=en-US}}
- Temuera Morrison – Actor{{Cite web |title=Temuera Morrison - Movies, Biography, News, Age & Photos |url=https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/temuera-morrison/IEIN008127 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=BookMyShow |language=en-IN}}
- Nando Pijnaker – All Whites defender{{Cite web |title=Nando Pijnaker |url=https://aucklandfc.co.nz/player/nando-pijnaker/#:~:text=I%20was%20born%20in%20the,first-team%20debut%20at%2015. |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Auckland |language=en-US}}
- Caleb Ralph – Rugby Union player (Crusaders, All Black){{Cite web |title=Stuff |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/334498/Blood-sweat-and-cheers-for-Caleb-Ralph |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Stuff }}
- Hika Reid – Rugby Union player (All Black) and coach{{Cite web |date=2024-11-28 |title=Hika Reid selected as a living rugby legend |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/hika-reid-selected-as-a-living-rugby-legend/OXFE5FUT7GUP5LOZAAEZXYML3E/ |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}
- Elias Scheres – Netball player{{cn|date=February 2025}}
- Buck Shelford – All Blacks Captain{{Cite web |title=Wayne Shelford |url=https://www.gtas.nz/wayne-shelford#:~:text=As%20a%20school%20boy,%20Buck,world's%20most%20outstanding%20loose%20forwards. |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Te Arawa Stories |language=en}}
- Darrall Shelford – NZ Māori (rugby union){{Cite web |date=2015-01-12 |title=WAYNE ‘BUCK’ SHELFORD TRIBUTE |url=https://allblacksopenforum.wordpress.com/2015/01/12/wayne-buck-shelford-tribute/ |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=ALL BLACKS |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.whhs.school.nz/ School website]
- {{ERO reports|151}}
{{Schools in Bay of Plenty}}
Category:Secondary schools in the Bay of Plenty Region
Category:Cambridge schools in New Zealand
Category:New Zealand secondary schools of Nelson plan construction