Christchurch West High School facts for kids

Hagley Community College in 2008

Christchurch West High School was a school in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was located on the same land where Hagley College is today. Before it became Christchurch West High School, it had other names like Christchurch Academy and High School of Christchurch. In 1966, this school joined with Technical High School to form Hagley High School. When they joined, the school's colours changed from maroon, black, and white to teal.

School History

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church and The Academy in 1858. The church later moved to Rangi Ruru Girls' School.

The school first opened its doors on 15 November 1858. It was started by the St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. The school was on a special triangular piece of land in Christchurch. This land was bordered by Tuam Street, Antigua Street, and Oxford Terrace.

At first, the school was called Christchurch Academy. It quickly became well-known and had a good reputation. In 1863, the school's committee decided they needed a bigger space. They bought the land where the school is now, across from South Hagley Park. This new spot was about 365 metres (400 yards) from their first location. When the school moved in July 1863, its name changed to High School of Christchurch.

In the early days, schools in Christchurch often received money from the Canterbury Provincial Council. This was like a local government for the Canterbury region. They gave money to school committees based on how many people of different religions lived in the area. However, the education system changed in 1873. The provincial council stopped giving these grants.

The school committee had to make a difficult choice. They decided to offer the school buildings and land to a new group. This group was the West Christchurch educational committee. The leader of this new committee, Henry Tancred, approved the purchase in September 1873. The school was then renamed West Christchurch Borough School. It became a public school that same year. About 70 students who were already there moved to the new public school. Many more students joined, and by the end of 1877, there were 868 students attending the school.

Historic Building

The main building of the school was built in 1924. It is considered an important historic place. Heritage New Zealand has listed it as a Category II heritage structure. This means it has special historical or cultural importance. Its official registration number is 1874. When it was first built, it was called the West Christchurch Public School. In 1958, a book was published to celebrate the school's 100th birthday.

Important Staff

• Tony Foster (1853–1918) was the headmaster from 1882 until around 1904.
• William Habens (1839–1899) worked at the school starting in 1868.