Established 1856 Headmaster Gary O'Shea School roll 1172 (July 2016) Founded 1856 Ministry of education institution number 294 | Ministry of Education Institution no. 294 Gender Boys Phone +64 3-548 3099 Sister school Nelson College for Girls | |
Type State secondary, day and boarding Address 67 Waimea Rd, Nelson South, Nelson 7010, New Zealand Motto Pietas Probitas et Sapientia Profiles | ||
Nelson college graduation movie 2016
Nelson College is a boys-only state secondary school in Nelson, New Zealand. It teaches from years 9 to 13. In addition, it runs a private Preparatory School for year 7 and 8 boys. The school also has places for boarders, who live in three boarding houses adjacent to the school.
Contents
Nelson college graduation 2015
History
The school opened with eight students on 7 April 1856 in premises in Trafalgar Square, Nelson, but shortly thereafter moved to a site in Manuka Street. In 1861, the school moved again to its current site in Waimea Road. The Deed of Foundation was signed in 1857 and set out the curriculum to be followed by the College. It included English language and literature, one or more modern languages, geography, mathematics, classics, history, drawing, music and such other branches of science as the Council of Governors should determine. The Deed stated that the purpose of the school was the "advancement of religion and morality, and the promotion of useful knowledge, by offering to the youth of the Province general education of a superior character."
In 1858, the General Assembly passed the Nelson College Act, which confirmed the status of the school. In that same year, Alfred Fell gifted the common seal, containing the college's badge and motto, "Pietas, Probitas et Sapientia" (Loyalty, honesty and wisdom). A team from Nelson College took part in the first game of rugby played in New Zealand, against the Nelson Rugby Football Club on 14 May 1870 at what is now known as the Botanic Reserve, Nelson, and, in 1876, the first inter-College rugby match in New Zealand was played between Nelson College and Wellington College.
On 7 December 1904, the College was almost completely destroyed by fire. The main building, designed by William Beatson, was said to be a "miniature of Eton," the architect being an old Etonian. In 1926, Nelson College was invited to join the annual rugby tournament between Christ's College, Wanganui Collegiate School and Wellington College, known as the "Quadrangular". In the 1929 Murchison earthquake, the main building of the College was once again severely damaged, although only two boys were injured.
In 2011, Nelson College became the first all-boys college in New Zealand to form a gay-straight alliance support group. The alliance operated from its own room. In 2015, an attempt was made to re-form the group.
Houses
The College has a house system. In 2004, two new houses were formed, to add to the existing three boarding and three day houses. However, following a boarding restructure in 2014, Rutherford House ceased to exist as an entity in the Nelson College inter-house competition. The 'Rutherford House' physical building is to be refurbished and repurposed into the Nelson College Preparatory School in 2016 while Rutherford boarders are merged into Barnicoat. The current houses are:
Boarders
Day boys
There is competition between the houses across a range of sporting codes and cultural activities including cross country running, swimming, and singing.
Headmasters
Since its foundation in 1856, Nelson College has had 20 headmasters. The following is a complete list: