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pakuranga.school.nz/international
Pakuranga
College
A GREAT PLACE TO GROW
FROM PAKURANGA COLLEGE
Applying to study overseas is a time of great excitement. Excitement about the new friends you’ll make, excitement about the different cultures you’ll discover, and the excitement of experiencing new opportunities.
It can also be a time of nervousness. Being away from home, in a new environment can be difficult at times. That is why Pakuranga College has a dedicated International Department, with staff committed to making the process of studying in New Zealand easier at every point - from visa application through to settling into your new homestay family and classes.
We value the diversity and vibrancy that international students bring to our college. Our international students hail from nearly 20 countries and our local students enjoy learning about these diverse cultures, while also immersing international students in the New Zealand way of life.
Pakuranga College is a highly regarded co-educational secondary school of over 2,000 students. We have a long tradition of commitment to excellence and of nurturing independent, highly motivated, and inquiring students who are well-prepared for successful university study. International students at Pakuranga College are integrated into regular classes with local students and can choose from a wide range of subjects. ESOL support is provided where required.
Coming to study in New Zealand is about more than just your time at school. It’s about experiencing our local attractions and there are plenty in East Auckland to keep you entertained, from mountain biking in our parks to swimming at our beautiful beaches, or hiking up a volcano to enjoy the view. The city centre, with its excellent dining, shopping, and entertainment options, is just a short ferry ride away. Our welcoming homestay families are always keen to show their host students Auckland’s highlights.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Pakuranga College family and to Auckland.
The Pakuranga College International Department
OUR HOMESTAY FAMILIES ARE WAITING TO WELCOME YOU TO AUCKLAND!
All our homestay families live in the local area, making the journey to school quick and convenient. You will have your own bedroom to allow you privacy and a quiet environment to study; plus fibre internet makes keeping in contact with home easy.
welcoming
homestays,
fantastic location
We carefully match international students with homestay families to ensure a good fit that will make your time in New Zealand even more enjoyable.
Our dedicated Homestay Co-ordinators are on-call 24/7 to answer any questions you or your family may have before and during your stay. They will also report regularly to parents about how their child is settling in.
Pakuranga is a quiet, attractive eastern suburb of Auckland with high-quality housing. It is close to beautiful beaches, large parks, and excellent shopping malls - and just 30 minutes from downtown Auckland.
Pakuranga College itself enjoys spacious grounds and a lush green environment. Adjacent to the college is Lloyd Elsmore Park, which is home to many facilities for sports such as hockey, rugby, netball, cricket, and athletics.
FAST FACTS
HOMESTAYS
• Close to the college
• Your own bedroom guaranteed
• Fast fibre internet
• Homestay Co-ordinators on-call 24/7 to answer your questions
• Homestay families and international students are carefully matched
LOCAL AREA
• Nature on your doorstep - stunning parks and beaches
• Excellent shopping, dining, and entertainment options
• Only 30 minutes from downtown Auckland
KIA
ORA
studying at pakuranga college
In addition to superb teaching and great pastoral care, we pride ourselves on excellent facilities and the wide range of subject options available to students.
FACILITIES:
• Brand new IT suites fitted with high spec computers
• State-of-the-art IT network with high-speed fibre
• Media editing suite
• Fully equipped science classrooms
• Technology building equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters, industrial standard kitchens, robotics labs, and engineering workshops
• Arts centre with photography facilities
• Music suite with practice rooms
• Dance and Drama studios
• State-of-the-art library
• Extensive sports facilities, including:
- 4 x netball courts
- Heated swimming pool
- Rugby field
- Weights room
- 2 x indoor basketball courts
- 2 x indoor gymnasiums
- 2 x football fields
- Floodlit hockey turf
- 5 x tennis courts
- Cricket pitch and nets
CURRICULUM:
• We offer eight different learning areas including English, Health and Physical Education, Languages, Mathematics and Statistics, The Arts, Social Sciences, Technology, and Science
• Explore our wide range of specialist courses, with over 40 subject options in Years 12 and 13
CO-CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES:
• Dive into a sports programme that offers over 20 different codes including basketball, badminton, football, rugby, hockey, swimming, cycling, tennis, and cricket
• Engage in our arts programme offering Dance, Drama, and Music experiences, plus interest-based Visual Arts groups such as clay modelling
• Immerse yourself in one of our many cultural groups, including M-aori and Pasifika
• Get involved in our many student councils and contribute to the vibrancy of the college - help fundraise, organise student events, and meet new friends
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SUPPORT:
• ESOL at all levels
• Chinese interpreter and teacher aides
• Dedicated International Department to provide an orientation to the college and support you during your time here
COLLEGE HALL VISUAL ARTS LIBRARYASTRO TURF
IT SUITES
HEATED POOL PLAYING FIELDS GYM SPORTS COMPLEX
TECHNOLOGY
STUDENT CENTRE
International students have joined us from Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
HERE’S WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT STUDYING AT PAKURANGA COLLEGE:
STUDYING AT PAKURANGA COLLEGE IS AS JOYFUL AS IT IS EXCITING. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE A POHUTUKAWA PEER SUPPORT LEADER, SCIENCE CLUB EXECUTIVE, AS WELL AS AN INTERNATIONAL HEAD STUDENT. THROUGH EACH OF THESE ROLES, MY LEADERSHIP SKILLS HAVE IMPROVED AND I’VE BEEN ABLE TO ENLARGE MY SOCIAL CIRCLE. IT IS EASY TO GAIN CONFIDENCE AND MAKE DECENT PROGRESS IN ENGLISH WITH THE HELP OF MY CLASSMATES AND TEACHERS.
HERE AT PAKURANGA COLLEGE, I’M ABLE TO DO STUDY COURSES SUCH AS BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, AND PHYSICS. AFTER LEAVING COLLEGE, I WOULD LIKE TO STUDY DENTAL SURGERY OR DENTISTRY AS MY MAJOR AT UNIVERSITY.
LEO LIU, CHINA
HEAD STUDENT 2020, CURRENTLY STUDYING A BSC IN DENTISTRY AT UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO
PAKURANGA COLLEGE
MY HOMESTAY FAMILY HAS BEEN SO WELCOMING, VE ABSOLUTELY FELT AT HOME AND I KNOW I’LL STAY IN TOUCH WHEN I RETURN TO FRANCE. THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY TIME HERE WAS GOING TO A BLUES GAME AT EDEN PARK WITH MY HOST FAMILY, AFTER THEY DISCOVERED THAT MY FAMILY BACK HOME IS RUGBY- MAD.
I ’ VE ALSO HAD LOTS OF FUN SUPPORTING THE PAKURANGA COLLEGE RUGBY TEAMS EVERY WEEKEND .
I ’ VE REALLY ENJOYED MY TIME HERE - I’VE MET SOME GREAT PEOPLE, MADE WONDERFUL MEMORIES, AND MY ENGLISH HAS IMPROVED A LOT.
GABRIELLE PEYRET, FRANCE STUDENT 2022
student achievements
over 75% OF PAKURANGA COLLEGE STUDENTS GO ON TO TERTIARY STUDY IN THE YEAR AFTER GRADUATION*
40 tertiary scholarships
VALUED AT $488,000 WERE AWARDED TO PAKURANGA COLLEGE STUDENTS IN 2021
*based on responses from 267 completed graduate surveys in 2021
WATCH OUR STUDENT EXPERIENCE VIDEOS AND SEE WHAT IT’S LIKE TO STUDY AT PAKURANGA COLLEGE
Pigeon Mountain Road, Half Moon Bay, Auckland 2012 New Zealand I PO Box 82090, Highland Park, Auckland 2143 New Zealand
T: (09) 534 7159 I E: international@pakuranga.school.nz I PakurangaCollege I @pakcoll I pakuranga.school.nz/international
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