Sacred Heart College is located on a 22-hectare campus looking out towards the Tamaki Estuary. One of New Zealand’s leading Catholic boy’s schools, it has a roll of about 1,200 students, comprising day boys and boarders. Its strong Marist character comes through in the daily life of the school, and Marist Brothers are among the teaching staff. Originally located in Ponsonby, it opened in 1903, and outgrew the site by 1955, moving its 250 students to the Glen Innes campus. The school has a long sporting tradition, as well as emphasising academic subjects, the arts and music, hospitality, carpentry and business. Well-known old boys include ex-All Black Sean Fitzpatrick and musicians Tim and Neil Finn, Dave Dobbyn and Mike Chunn. School buses run from many parts of Auckland to Sacred Heart College.

This co-educational college has approximately 1,000 students between Years 9 and 13, from a range of cultures and ethnic backgrounds. The curriculum includes traditional academic and other opportunities including dance, fashion, hospitality, te reo Maori, computer programming, languages, science and technology. Sport, kapahaka, arts and drama are also on offer, while development programmes give students the chance to take vocational subjects and train in trades, crafts, as technicians and in other roles. A Gateway to Employment subject helps students explore career options and develop a range of skills to help them transition to employment.

Tamaki College has a school roll of around 630 students from Years 9 to 13. The school is proud of its strong Maori and Pacific Island heritage, and promotes a policy of success for its students, working to raise their achievements through various initiatives, such as mentoring programmes, tutor classes and encouraging improvement through targets. The school’s accelerated reading programme, for all Year 9 and 10 students, encourages them to read independently. In addition to the academic curriculum, the school has trade academies offering trades and technology programmes, run in partnership with tertiary institutions, industry training organisations and employers. These academies aim to engage young people in education and prepare them for work. The school also runs a military-focused service academy in conjunction with the New Zealand Defence Force’s Youth Development Unit.

Glenbrae School opened in 1955 and, now has a roll of around 170 girls and boys from Years 1 to 8. The multi-cultural environment is part of the school’s character, and local families join in all aspects of school life. Parents are encouraged to engage with the school and are given help to support their children’s learning at home. The school programmes include thinking skills, reading support, an arts programme, kapahaka instruction, plus there are computers in every classroom and opportunities to participate in sports teams and sports days.

This primary school caters for around 650 children from Years 1 to 8. It offers enrichment and extension opportunities for gifted and talented children and specialist programmes for children who need extra learning support, particularly in literacy and maths, and is a state-authorised International Baccalaureate School offering the Primary Years Programme. Modern classrooms allow children to work collaboratively as they learn, and shared areas and quiet spaces accommodate different learning styles. Facilities include a gymnasium, hall, adventure playground, swimming pool and playing fields, and many sports and activities are run by the school. Specialist options include language rooms, a library, music and art rooms.

Glen Innes School takes children from Years 1 to 8 and the roll includes children from Maori, Samoan, Tongan, Cooking Island, Niuean, Pakeha, Asian and Indian backgrounds. The curriculum focuses on literacy and numeracy, and provides teachers to work with children who do not have English as a first language. Children have opportunities to enjoy sport and cultural events, to learn about Maori language and culture, and attend after-school cultural groups. Children from Years 5 to 8 are encouraged to used ICT in their learning. The school also works with the community to involve parents and local people in listening to and encouraging children to read. Glen Innes School has developed links with local secondary schools to help smooth the transition at this level.

Glen Taylor School opened in 1958 on the site of the Glen Innes Homestead. Now, this multi-cultural school has a roll of around 260 students from Year 1 to Year 8. School programmes include academic learning in reading, writing and maths, as well as exposure to sports, digital technologies, cultural groups, music, arts, leadership, ESOL and support programmes. The school aims to raise student achievement, get children engaged in their own learning and take responsibility for it, as well as developing leaders and providing opportunities for involvement in the wider curriculum. The school also encourages effective engagement with the local community.

This small primary school for children from Years 1 to 8 has a strong Catholic faith, operating as a parish school, and teaching children to love learning, respect themselves and each other, and to reach their potential in reading and mathematics, in partnership with their families and the local community. The school also teaches critical, creative and reflective thinking and problem solving. The roll of around 120 children is mainly drawn from Pacifica families, but is expected to become more diverse as families move into nearby new housing. Academic, sporting, music and cultural activities are all important parts of school life.