Mount Albert Grammar School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Albert Grammar School
Address
36 Alberton Avenue Auckland , 1025 New Zealand
Coordinates	36°53′4.52″S 174°43′31.2″E / 36.8845889°S 174.725333°E / -36.8845889; 174.725333
Information
Type	State secondary, day and boarding
Motto	Latin: Per Angusta Ad Augusta (Through Hardship to Glory)
Established	1922; 103 years ago
Ministry of Education Institution no.	69
Headmaster	Patrick Drumm
Grades	9–13
Gender	Coeducational
School roll	3,427 (February 2024)
Socio-economic decile	7 (2015)
Alumni name	Albertians
Website	mags.school.nz

Mount Albert Grammar School, often called MAGS, is a large co-educational school in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a state school, meaning it is funded by the government. Students from Year 9 to Year 13 attend MAGS. As of August 2021, Mount Albert Grammar School was the second largest school in New Zealand.

School History

Mount Albert Grammar School started in 1922. It was first connected to Auckland Grammar School, but now they are separate. When it first opened, only boys could attend MAGS. In the year 2000, the school became co-educational, which means both boys and girls can go there. For younger students (Years 9 and 10), classes are mostly single-sex. However, for older students (Years 11 to 13), all classes have both boys and girls.

School Motto and Hymn

The school's motto is in Latin: Per Angusta Ad Augusta. This means "Through Hardship to Glory". It reminds students that working hard through challenges can lead to success. The school also has a special hymn. A student named J. A. W. Bennett wrote it in 1928. Students sing this hymn at all important school gatherings.

School Leaders

Many headmasters have led the school since it opened. The current headmaster is Patrick Drumm, who started in 2016. The school's main hall was built in 1925 and officially opened in 1926.

Boarding at MAGS

After the school opened, there was a need for students to live at the school. So, in 1927, a hostel for boarders opened. This first hostel closed in 1970. A new boys' boarding hostel, called School House, opened in 1971. It is built on one of the school's sports fields. School House can house up to 105 boys during the school year. The school also has a complex on Lloyd Avenue that serves as a girls' hostel and accommodation for teachers.

The School Farm

During the Great Depression in the 1930s, many families found it hard to afford long-term education. To help, the school started an agricultural course. In 1933, MAGS bought 20 acres of land to create a farm for students. This farm helped students learn practical skills.

Changes Over Time

In 1989, the school made big changes under Headmaster Greg Taylor. One important change was ending corporal punishment, which was a physical way of disciplining students. The school also started hiring women teachers. As more Pasifika students joined the school in the 1980s, support staff were hired to help them.

New Science Building

On July 24, 2020, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, officially opened the school's new science building. This building is called the CS block. It is named after William Caradus, who was the school's second headmaster. Students started using the new science block at the beginning of the 2020 school year.

Learning at MAGS

Students at Mount Albert Grammar School learn many different subjects from Year 9 to Year 13. The school uses the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) system for qualifications. In 2015, a high percentage of students achieved NCEA Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. This was higher than the national average for all students in New Zealand. The school celebrates student achievements through its Lion Awards programme.

Sports at MAGS

Mount Albert Grammar School has a strong tradition in sports. In 2007 and 2009, MAGS won many major Auckland sports titles in rugby, football (soccer), and netball. The First XI girls' football team and the Premier Girls' Basketball team also won their first Auckland Championships in 2009.

Mt Albert Aquatic Centre

The Mt Albert Aquatic Centre is a swimming facility that was built as a joint project between Mount Albert Grammar School and the Auckland City Council. The Prime Minister of New Zealand opened it in 1998. The centre has a 25-metre competition pool and a fun leisure pool with waves and a water slide. Many people from the public visit this centre.

Mount Albert Grammar School Farm

This is a photo of the Mount Albert Grammar School Farm as seen from the upper floor of MH Block.

Since 1933, Mount Albert Grammar School has a working farm right next to the school. It is about 10.8 hectares (27 acres) in size, which is quite large for a farm in the middle of a city like Auckland. The farm is home to different animals like sheep, pigs, rabbits, cattle, and chickens. A farm manager lives on site and takes care of the animals. The land for the farm is owned by the ASB Bank. In 2013, the bank extended the school's lease for 99 years, costing only one dollar per year. This means the school can use the farm until 2112.

Observatory

Mount Albert Grammar School is one of the few schools in New Zealand that has its own observatory. An observatory is a place with a telescope used for looking at stars and planets. The school's observatory was finished in 2008. It has a powerful 12-inch telescope. Students and the public can sometimes use the telescope to explore the night sky. The observatory is used for both school lessons and for amateur research.

School Hymn

The school hymn is sung at all formal school assemblies. It is usually played with a live piano. A MAGS student named Jack A. W. Bennett wrote the hymn in 1928. The words of the hymn were studied in a report by the School Archivist.

School Review

In 2018, the New Zealand Education Review Office (ERO) reviewed the school. They found that MAGS uses the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) system. The ERO report noted that the school's academic achievement is above the national average. This makes Mount Albert Grammar one of the top schools in the country. The report also highlighted the success of Māori and Pasifika students. For example, in 2017, 91% of Māori students and 85% of Pasifika students achieved NCEA Level 2.

Student Population

Mount Albert Grammar School has a large student population. It enrolls 2,991 students. About 57% of the students are male, and 43% are female. The students come from many different backgrounds. About 40% are of European descent, 23% are Asian, and 19% are Pasifika. There are also students from Middle Eastern, Latin American, African, and other ethnic backgrounds.

Famous Former Students

Many people who went to Mount Albert Grammar School have become well-known in different fields. These former students are called Albertians.

Academia (Education and Research)

• J.A.W. (Jack) Bennett – a famous professor at Cambridge University.
• Sir Graeme Davies – led three different universities as Vice-Chancellor.
• Sir Keith Sinclair – a well-known New Zealand historian.
• Professor Karl Stead – a famous poet, novelist, and literary critic.

Art and Entertainment

• Sir Peter Siddell – a respected artist.
• Derek Hansen – a writer.
• Liam Thompson – a popular YouTube personality.

Government and Public Service

• Dr Alan Bollard – used to be the Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.
• Sir Robert Muldoon – served as the Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984.
• Les Mills – a former Mayor of Auckland and an athlete.

Industry and Business

• Sir Woolf Fisher – one of the people who started the company Fisher & Paykel.
• Chris Liddell – used to be a top financial officer at big companies like Microsoft and General Motors.

Law

• Judge Mick Brown – a former judge in the Youth Court.

Music

• Sir Donald McIntyre – a famous opera singer.

Science

• E.G. (Ted) Bollard – a research scientist.
• Sir Alan Stewart – a former vice-chancellor of Massey University.
• Richard Matthews – a respected microbiologist.

Sports

See also

• List of schools in New Zealand