Big growth for Te Awamutu College in 2021

Te Awamutu College students hit 'the main drag' between classes for the new school year which has seen the school's roll grow to almost 1400 students.

While the Ministry of Education under-predicted the roll for Te Awamutu College for 2021, fortunately the high school's own calculations meant they were ready for big numbers.

Principal Tony Membery says the school had planned and prepared for a large increase at Year 9, and their information was correct.

This year the Year 9 intake is 361 students, compared to 2020's 303, and it has contributed to a current roll of 1364. The MoE predicted 1309.

Tony says to accommodate the extra students, and extra class space needed, the Seminar Room has been transformed into a teaching space.

The Year 13 dedicated study area (previously the Seminar Room) has been relocated to the back of the library, adjacent to the Careers Suite.

He says the college is also fully staffed for the increased numbers, with extra staff in place for 2021.

He says new students are still arriving and enrolling, but at the same time senior students who are on the roll, pleasingly have secured work or training and are not returning.

Tony says the school management will continue to work with the MoE to implement an enrolment scheme and have it in place for 2022.

Management and staff are also impressed with the provisional academic results from 2020.

Tony says there have been improvements and successes across all three senior levels.

Year 11 students last year performed at 2.1 per cent above the national average, while Year 12 students were 3.1 per cent above average.

The result for Year 13 was the second highest for Te Awamutu College in the past five years.

"These results reflect the hard work of students and teachers and the support of parents and caregivers," says Tony.

"Our students returned to school after the Covid-19 lockdown and got 'stuck in'."