Scots College, Wellington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scots College |
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| Address | |
| Coordinates | 41°19′42″S 174°49′09″E / 41.3284°S 174.8191°E |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, composite, day and boarding |
| Motto | Virtutem paret doctrina Let education build all-round character |
| Denomination | Presbyterian |
| Established | 1916 |
| Ministry of Education Institution no. | 281 |
| Headmaster | Mr Graeme Yule |
| Grades | 1–13 |
| Gender | co-educational |
| School roll | 1,148 |
| Socio-economic decile | 10 |
| Website | Scotscollege.school.nz |
Scots College is a private Presbyterian school in Wellington, New Zealand. It is located in the Strathmore Park area. The college has three parts: a Junior School (Years 1-6), a Middle School (Years 7-10), and a Senior School (Years 11-13). Each part has its own leader and teachers. Scots College is also an IB World College.
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Scots College History
Scots College started as a school for boys in 1916. It was founded by Rev Dr James Gibb and Hon John Aitken. The first campus was in Thorndon, but the school moved to Strathmore in 1920. Dr Gibb wanted to create a Christian school that was separate from the government system.
The school's Scottish background is a big part of its traditions. You might see a piper leading a procession into the hall. The school song also reflects this heritage. Prefects wear kilts for special events and for chapel on Fridays. The school uses the tartan of the Clan Fergusson.
The main building, called the Main Block, is a special historic place. It is listed as a Category II building by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.
Houses at Scots College
Students in the Middle and Senior Schools (Years 7–13) are divided into eight "houses." These houses are named after important people who helped Scots College grow. Students compete in their houses in sports like swimming, cross-country, and athletics. They also have music competitions and weekly house games like hockey.
The first two houses were Aitken (Blue) and Fergusson (Green). Later, Glasgow (Red) and MacKenzie (Yellow) were added. Then came Plimmer (Sky Blue) and Uttley (Black). The newest houses are Smith (Navy Blue) and Mawson (Maroon).
The Junior School (Years 1–6) has four houses: Potatau (Blue), Bedding (Green), Macarthur (Red), and McKelvie (Yellow). These names also honor people connected to the school's past.
Campus Facilities
Scots College has many modern buildings for learning and activities. A new science block was opened in 2006. The Aitken block, which holds the main office, opened in 2009. Other updated areas include the Leslie Shelly Lecture Theatre and the Information Centre.
The Hodge Sports Centre (HSC) opened in 2011. The Creative Performing Arts Centre (CPAC) opened in 2012. This arts center has a pipe band room, a recording studio, drama rooms, and music rooms. It also has art and graphics rooms.
In recent years, the school has added "Flexible Learning Environments." These are spaces that help students work together. They allow for large and small group learning. Students can also work alone in these areas.
The newest building is the McKinnon Block, which opened in 2020. It has facilities for Food Science and a special lab for design and making things. This block also has common rooms for girls, as the school is now co-educational.
Boarding at Scots College
The school has a boarding house called Gibb House. It is named after the school's founder. About 130 students can live there. Most boarders are in Years 9–13. Staff members live in the house to help students.
School Connections and Sports
Scots College's top rugby team, the 1st XV, plays in a high-level division. In 2014, they won the New Zealand Secondary School Championship. In 2015, they went to Japan and placed third in a big rugby tournament.
The rugby team performs a special haka before games. This haka was written by a former student.
Scots College is a "brother school" to Queen Margaret College. They often have social events and sports games with other local schools. The school also plays against other secondary schools like Lindisfarne and primary schools like Huntley School.
Notable Alumni
Many successful people have studied at Scots College. Here are a few:
- Steven Adams – a basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies
- Ashley Bloomfield – a doctor and former Director-General of Health for New Zealand
- John Clarke – a famous satirist
- Sarpreet Singh – a footballer for Bayern Munich II
- Victor Vito – a rugby player for the New Zealand Rugby Sevens and All Black
Becoming Co-educational
In 2020, Scots College decided to become a fully co-educational school. This means it now accepts both girls and boys. The change started in 2020 with girls joining Years 11 and 12. The school plans to include girls in all years (1-13) by 2022. This change is part of the school's plan to prepare students for the future.
