Nau mai, haere mai ki te kura o Hastings Girls' High School
He waka eke noa
Here, at Hastings Girls’ High School - Ngā Rau Huia O Ākina, your daughter writes her own story around learning in which she takes centre stage. Knowing your daughter’s story and catering to her specific learning needs is our ‘why’. Putting our why at the heart of everything we do enables us to make the best decisions for our girls, whether it be in the classroom, on the sports field, or through one of our many performing arts opportunities. Everything we do is shaped around the strengths and interests of our students. Our innovative curriculum hooks students in and challenges them by discovering their passions and interests. Flexibility allows students to make choices and drive their own learning.
I feel proud to be the Principal of a school that celebrates diversity, embraces inclusivity, and has a rich and valued history.
Catherine Bentley, Principal
Providing rich, relevant learning pathways
Here at Hastings Girls’, we recognise students have different strengths, and learn at different speeds. We aim for each of our girls to achieve their goals and excel in learning, leaving us as young women who will flourish in society.
Students are mentored in order that they choose a pathway that best suits their strengths, interests and future plans.
We are committed to a curriculum that challenges and develops the critical thinking, creativity, knowledge and skills of all our girls. Specific learning needs are targeted by our supported learning programmes, tailored to offer extra support to girls who need it.
We also identify and provide for students who will benefit from further enrichment opportunities to extend their educational potential. This happens both in and beyond the classroom, with students participating in events such as Tournament of Minds and Growing NZ. From Year 10, students have the opportunity to take NCEA levels in their subjects of strength.
Our school
At Hastings Girls’ identity is taonga – the essential building block which becomes the starting point for student learning; the foundation that supports our local, culturally located curriculum. We want our girls to know who they are, and to be empowered by their heritage, alongside their strengths and interests.
Our values of Pono, Manaakitanga, Whanaungatanga, Whakaute, Kaitiakitanga provide the scaffold for our girls to develop their moral courage. Character is shaped through modelling and exploration in learning our values, which in turn are integrated into our everyday lives. They are present in our thoughts and in our words. We know, just like physical strength or intellect, our moral courage is not a fixed state but something that, fuelled by determination, we can harness, hone and develop.
We believe that our holistic view of education will reveal outstanding learners, athletes, artists, world-class citizens, and future leaders.
We have aspirational goals for our girls. We want the best for them. We support our girls to be courageous, kind and equipped for life.
Strengthening student wellbeing for success
Our girl is at the centre of all we do at Hastings Girls’. Knowing her story informs how we guide her on her learning journey. Hastings Girls’ system of pastoral care is a wrap around service which has been developed in response to our students’ needs. Our intent is to make your daughter’s learning a true partnership between whānau/family and school. This makes us more responsive to her wellbeing so that we can better equip her for the future.
The Hauora team of specialists exists to better meet the needs of your daughter. They review processes and work with outside agencies using the most recent advice and data, whether it be around learning, behaviour, or whānau engagement. By working as a collaborative team we can
be innovative and build the best experience for our girls.
At Hastings Girls’, holistic care is facilitated through Ākina groups. These are small, vertical house pastoral groups in which a significant adult takes an active interest in each girl’s learning, growth and development. This group remains together over the course of their time at school. This creates a strong positive relationship, allows opportunities for mentorship and gives our students a greater sense of belonging. Our aim is to ensure our girls know who they are and that they feel absolutely accepted, connected and valued.
Hastings Girls' High School
Ngā Rau Huia o Ākina
Presents the school production of
darklight
by Lindsay Price
Darklight examines depression and anxiety in teens. Characters fight their inner thoughts, search for their truths, and have surreal conversations with death. Some fail, some find hope.
Winners of the Prime Minister's Excellence in Education Awards
Since 2014, the Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards have been shining a light on teaching best practice by schools, kura, early learning services and kōhanga reo across Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Awards focus on the work of groups, teams and partnerships in English, Māori, or Pacific-medium settings. They highlight the combined effort needed to achieve improvement, equity and planned innovation.
In 2021 Hastings Girls' won in the category of Excellence in Leading
Transformative leadership is developing high trust relationships with Māori and Pacific communities at Hastings Girls’ High School.
Junior subject hubs focusing on students’ interests, replaced class streaming. Middle leadership is developing, alongside student agency and power sharing, while cultural identity is embraced in the new uniform.
Expert mentorship supports the principal through a wide-ranging change programme, where community agencies are embedded in professional learning.
University Entrance achievement for Māori and Pacific learners has reached parity with other students, for the very first time.
What the judges said
Transformational leadership at Hastings Girls’ High School - Ngā Rau Huia O Ākina established a warm and supportive school environment that embraces diversity. The school believes in leadership at all levels, with students informing leadership roles. Whānau voice also contributed to a good partnership between home and school – creating tailored opportunities for each girl.
