King’s High School rector Nick McIvor is ecstatic the school has again received the highest number of NZQA scholarships in Otago and Southland.
‘‘We’re incredibly proud of the 20 boys and their teachers and families who created these fantastic academic results.
‘‘To finish in the top 1%-3% in New Zealand is a great performance in New Zealand’s most demanding exams.
‘‘It also shows that if we encourage and support them to be ambitious, and to aim high, young men can be extraordinary.’’
In the 2019 New Zealand scholarship exams, 20 King’s pupils achieved 52 scholarships in total — nine of which were outstanding scholarships.
Adding to the success was year 12 pupil George Bates, who was named one of New Zealand’s 12 premier scholars; and 2019 dux Jamie Haenraets who was the top scholar in New Zealand for design and an outstanding scholar award-winner.
Arlo James and Arlo Munro were also outstanding scholar award-winners.
The school puts a focus on pupils reaching their academic capability by providing individualised learning programmes, stand-alone scholarship classes, and a scholarship club.
The extension programme spans across all five years a pupil attends the boys-only high school, so
pupils who exhibit capability in particular subjects, from as early as year 9, are accelerated.
The King’s High School pupils were among more than 9800 pupils across the country who sat scholarship exams last year.
In Otago and Southland, 206 scholarships were awarded.
Other high performing southern schools were Logan Park High School (27 scholarships), Wakatipu High School (21), James Hargest College (19) and Otago Boys’ High School (18).
NZQA deputy chief executive Kristine Kilkelly said scholarship exams were regarded as the most prestigious secondary school award in the country.
