Mount Albert Grammar School

GENERAL

Mount Albert Grammar School (MAGS) was founded in 1922 and is a leading New Zealand Government Co-educational High School. It is a school with much spirit, pride and tradition, also possessing the internationally recognised ISO 9001 quality mark for its education systems. The School promotes academic achievement within a caring, safe and supportive environment and it is committed to providing ample opportunity for each student who enters its gates to achieve their maximum potential.

LOCATION AND FACILITIES

Situated in central suburban Auckland, the School is 15 minute by car from the downtown city and 20 minutes from New Zealand's largest international airport. The School has spacious grounds, with extensive facilities equal to the best in New Zealand, including:
Aquatic Centre - this is one of the finest in New Zealand, with two heated pools; a leisure pool with wave action and water slide and a 25 metre training pool.
Horticulture Unit with a range of growing facilities, including glasshouses and watering systems.
School Farm: Agricultural Science students get full use of a model working farm.
Squash Courts
Astro-Turf Courts, modern top-quality courts for tennis, netball and field hockey
Sand-Carpeted Fields
Two Gymnasiums including a new, state-of-the-art gymnasium with sprung wooden floor
Careers Centre, fully equipped with specialist staff to assist students with planning their future studies and careers
Student Centre, with Guidance and student support staff.
Multi-Media Library with excellent library facilities and multi-media technology

TRADITION

Alumni of the school include a New Zealand Prime Minister (Sir Robert Muldoon), the Governor of the New Zealand Reserve (Central) Bank (Dr Allan Bollard), many Scholars and University Professors, and the man voted "New Zealand Athlete of the Twentieth Century", with 3 Olympic Gold Medals, Dr Peter Snell. The names of student leaders, sporting captains and top scholars are written in gold letters on the walls of the school's historic Assembly Hall.

INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS

New Zealand offers international students a clean and safe environment in which to benefit from a high-quality education system. New Zealand's school and University graduates gain qualifications that allow them to pursue further education in most countries of the world. The school roll is over 2000 boys and girls, with about 4% international students from many countries, including China, Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, India, Japan, Brazil, Hong Kong, Argentina, Cambodia, Chile, France, Germany, Indonesia, Jordan, Libya, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia and South Africa.

On graduation at the end of their Year 13 course, International Students receive graduation certificates and special medallions. Each year 85-90% of our international graduates go on to University studies in New Zealand, Australia, USA, UK, Canada or other countries.

COURSES/START DATES

The School has a 5-year academic programme: Year 9 (age 13-14) to Year 13 (age 17-19). International students in Years 9 and 10 are accepted at any time in the year. Students in Years 11, 12 or 13 are encouraged to start at the beginning of Term 1, but applications are also accepted for the beginning of Terms 2 and 3. Girls are taught in separate classes from boys in Years 9 & 10 and then in mixed classes in Years 11, 12, & 13. A full range of subjects is studied for all New Zealand qualifications; no school has a wider range. See the web site for full course details.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

All students are tested on arrival and if their English Level is not sufficient for mainstream (Entry Level required: Year 9 & 10: pre-Intermediate; Year 11, 12 & 13: Intermediate) they are offered entry into the Mount Albert Grammar School ESOL Course. This on-site, full-time, intensive course, fully accredited for international students by the New Zealand Ministry of Education, has been designed to improve the English Language skills of international students. Students usually take at least 2 terms to progress into mainstream courses, and the fees are the same as for mainstream courses. Alternatively, students applying to the school may first do an intensive English Language course at a private English Language School, usually for at least 24 weeks, and must reach the listed English level prior to starting their MAGS mainstream course.
International students in mainstream courses also take an ESOL class at MAGS, to prepare them for University study in New Zealand or other countries

EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMME

The school has a long tradition of performance in the arts. Recent dramatic productions include Shakespeare's "Much ado about Nothing", and the School stages regular musical productions, such as "The Mikado". Drama and Dance are strong school subjects as is Music. Students can learn to play a wide range of musical instruments from specialist teachers.
The School has a tradition of sporting excellence at the highest levels in Auckland and New Zealand. International students take part in a range of sports, depending on their ability and which season(s) students are enrolled in. There are also facilities for students to use by themselves or in small groups.

ACCOMMODATION

All international students, regardless of age, must live in a School homestay (boys or girls) or the School boarding hostel Towers Hall (100 places, boys only), or with a close family friend or relative.

STUDENT WELFARE

The International Department includes a Director, Dean and Office staff. The International Office arranges accommodation. insurance and visa/permit renewals. The School provides a full support team of Deans and Counsellors. All international students, regardless of age, must have a New Zealand resident guardian, recommended by their parents, or appointed by the School.

APPLYING TO THE SCHOOL/FEES

The international section of the school web site has full information, including all fees and enrolment procedures, together with application forms that can be downloaded, filled in and sent to the School's international office. Parents and students are encouraged to contact the school and will be sent a prospectus.