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Shirley Boys' High School

Shirley Boys' High School (Māori: Ngā Tama o Ōruapaeroa), also known as SBHS, is a single sex state (public) secondary school in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was originally situated on a 6 hectare site in the suburb of Shirley, but in April 2019 moved, along with Avonside Girls' High School, further east to the former QEII Park, 8.6 kilometres from the city centre.[3]

Shirley Boys' High School
Māori: Ngā Tama o Ōruapaeroa
Shirley Boys' High School
Location
Map
209 Travis Road
Christchurch
New Zealand
Information
TypeState single sex boys secondary
MottoLatin: Interest Omnium Recte Facere
(In everyone’s interests to act rightly)
Established1957
Ministry of Education Institution no.
321
Chairman
Iaean Cranwell
HeadmasterTim Grocott
Grades9–13
Enrollment1,352[1] (March 2026)
ColorsBlue and Gold    
Socio-economic decile
6N[2]
Websiteshirley.school.nz

Brief history

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Parents in the eastern and northern suburbs of Christchurch had wanted single-sex education for their sons. In 1957, this finally became available when the school opened under its first Headmaster, Charles Gallagher.

Established on a swampy paddock formerly used for grazing horses to the west of North Parade, the School grew rapidly. Within a few years it became a self-confessed and proud rival to Christchurch Boys' High School as well as to St. Andrew's and St Bede's College.[4]

A detailed satirical portrait of the school as it was in the late 1960s can be found in The Shining City, a novel by former student Stevan Eldred-Grigg.[5]

On the Easter weekend (April) of 2007, Shirley Boys' High School celebrated its 50th Jubilee. Commemorative events included an Old Boys' XV playing the current 2nd XV and the 1st XV playing in historic uniform against St. Andrew's College; as well as a golf tournament, formal black-tie dinner, staff luncheon and 'meet-and-greet evening'.

2011 earthquake

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During the magnitude 6.3 quake on 22 February the school suffered extensive damage[6][7] and had to close. At least two classroom blocks were expected to be demolished, and all of the concrete areas of the school, including the new tennis courts, were badly damaged.

The students did not attend school for almost a month afterwards, before the decision was made to shift its pupils to Papanui High School[8] – with Papanui High School's students changing to attend classes from 8 am until 1 pm, while the Shirley Boys' High School students entered the school at 1.15 pm and finished at 5.45 pm. After about 6 months of this arrangement[9] pupils were able to return to the re-opened school in early September 2011.[10]

Move to new site

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Education Minister Hekia Parata announced on 16 October 2013 that the school would move, and be co-located with Avonside Girls' High School at a site in east Christchurch.[11] On 12 February 2015 the site was announced to be the former QEII Park site.[12]

The move to the new site was completed in April 2019.[3]

Enrolment

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As of March 2026, Shirley Boys' High School has roll of 1,352 students, of which 324 (24.0%) identify as Māori.[1]

As of 2026, the school has an Equity Index of 464,[13] placing it amongst schools whose students have average socioeconomic barriers to achievement (roughly equivalent to deciles 5 and 6 under the former socio-economic decile system).[14]

Houses

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Shirley Boys' High School Houses
AorakiNamed after Aoraki / Mount Cook, the largest peak in New Zealand.
MullinsNamed after Mr. Mullins, Former Deputy Headmaster.
SnellNamed after Peter Snell, New Zealand athlete.
BlakeNamed after Peter Blake, New Zealand sailor and conservationist.

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. 1 2 "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  2. ↑ "Decile Change 2014 to 2015 for State & State Integrated Schools". Ministry of Education. 29 November 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  3. 1 2 Law, Tina (10 April 2019). "Two Christchurch secondary schools say goodbye to original sites". Stuff. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  4. ↑ Amodeo, Colin (March 2007). On Parade!: Shirley Boys' High School – The First Fifty Years. Caxton Press. ISBN 978-1-877303-08-1.
  5. ↑ Eldred-Grigg, Stevan (1991). The Shining City. Penguin Books. ISBN 014014935X.
  6. ↑ Jo Gilbert and Tracey Cooper (1 March 2011). "Minister visits earthquake damaged Christchurch schools". The Press. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  7. ↑ Amodeo, Colin (2020). On Parade!: at Ōrua Paero. Caxton Press. ISBN 978-0-473-54455-3.
  8. ↑ Ben Heather, Jo Gilbert and Charley Mann (2 March 2011). "Schools on the move". The Press. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  9. ↑ Gilbert, Jo (7 April 2011). "Some schools plan to return to their sites". The Press. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  10. ↑ "Shirley Boys High back in business", 12 September 2011, ONE News
  11. ↑ O'Callaghan, Jody (16 October 2013). "Two schools to share site in city's east". The Press. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  12. ↑ "Avonside Girls, Shirley Boys to be built at QEII". Stuff. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  13. ↑ "New Zealand Equity Index". New Zealand Ministry of Education.
  14. ↑ "School Equity Index Bands and Groups". www.educationcounts.govt.nz. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  15. ↑ Dann, Jennifer (28 February 2017). "Twelve Questions with Eden Mulholland". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  16. ↑ "Lawyer's bid to reclaim former staunch seat for Labour". The New Zealand Herald. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
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