School in 1886

Wellington High School 1886 to today

A proud tradition of educational innovation for over 100 years

1886: Richard John Seddon considered that the education provided by existing secondary schools was not relevant to colonial life.

Robert Stout, Prime Minister, foresaw problems with brighter students being merely drilled in ordinary grammar school subjects.

W.H.S. was born as Wellington College of Design.

Riley the founder

Nairn - Seascape

M Block 2004

1891: The school evolves into Wellington Technical School and grows rapidly with expanding programmes and secondary roll; Riley appointed James McLachlan Nairn as the first art teacher at the school, although Nairn did not live long he became a noted New Zealand landscape artist and brought the school to the centre of lively controversy in the art world.

1899: Growth forces its move to a bigger building in Wakefield Street

1905: It becomes the first coeducational daytime Technical College . La Trobe, Principal, said he would teach students to think for themselves - " there would be no parrot-like repetition of teachers' words." He emphasised self-discipline rather than corporal punishment.

1922: The school begins the move to Taranaki Street under the leadership of Principal, John Howell. He fights to retain coeducation and believes it is the natural way to educate. He ensures a broad cultural programme with lots of music and dramatic productions. Howell is providing an alternative to a narrow academic school which prepares students for the matriculation examination despite the fact that very few finish the course.

Howell was laying the foundations for a broad general education delivered in state coeducational secondary schools as we know it today.

1960: The day school has 1100 students and the other technical classes 5,000.

1964: The High School splits from the polytechnic and continues a broad general education. It retains a large community education programme

1978: Rebuilding of the school begins.

1980: Turoa Royal introduces the first bilingual programme, whanau grouping and special needs unit.

1986 : The wearing of uniform is discarded.

1990 : New technology block opens.

1994: Taraika - the new whare nui - opened

1995: Refurbished Hall opens.

1997: New photography suite opens; the school is an early adopter of standards based assessment.

1999: New Library and Music block opens - linking the Hall to the new buildings.
            Hine Akau - the new whare kai and two classrooms - opened

2000: New Food technology room opens.

2001: New pavilion is finished and the junior school Certificate in Learning is introduced.

2002: A new ICT centre opens under the Riley Centre, NCEA level 1 is implemented

2003: The Board confirms its intention to continue community education as an Adult and Community Education Learning Centre under the Tertiary Education Commission - it remains the largest secondary school based programme in New Zealand 

The Education Review Office reported:
 "students engage well in their learning, sustain  on-task behaviours, co-operate with their teachers and are confiident contributors to class discussions" (ERO  February 2003)

2007: The Education Review office reported:
“The school proudly upholds a tradition that promotes educational innovation to meet the changing needs of its community…. and empowers teachers to personalise student learning through which the skills and abilities of each student are developed”  (ERO April 2007)

Today the school continues to develop innovative curriculum programmes and student management practices.