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New Zealand Intermediate schools are for children 12-14 years of age (years 7-8). In rural areas where therecare not enough children to justify an intermdiary children, years 7-8 may be added to local primary schools. The intermidiary schools are similar to American junior high and middle schools. There also are a few middle schools with slightly different year composituon. They are designed to more effectively deal with the transition from elementary to secondary schools. The intermediate school takes children from the contributing primary schools and feeds them into secondary schools. Unlike primary and secondaty schools, virtually all intermiary schools are state schools.
These brief descriptions provide a general idea about the size and nature of New Zealand intermediate schools.
Howick Intermediate School was opened 2 of April 1966. It is a state funded, co-ed intermediate school catering for year seven and eight pupils. We are located in the suburb of Howick which is part of Manukau City. The school is 30 minutes drive from the centre of Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The school role is in a growth period, and has a maximum capacity of 760. Howick Intermediate students benefit from the school's muticultural composition. There are over 30 nationalities represented, including many
Australian, South African and British students as well as students from Asia, The Pacific Islands, The Middle East and Europe. Classes are grouped into Whanau or teams
comprising of three or four classes in each. Within each Whanau, the classes are mixed, boys and girls, years seven and eight. Each student usually stays
with the same teacher for the two year period they attend the school. Core subjects such as Mathematics, English and Science are taught in the home rooms. Other
curriculum areas are catered for in special purpose rooms and taught by specialist teachers. These subjects include Music, Art and Technology.
All of the intermediate schools we are familirt with require basic uniforms. Many have seasonal differences. Tauranga Intermediate School with the standard years 7 and 8 classes has one uniform for the whole year with the exception of footwear. From May to September (the colder months) the pupils have to wear black shoes with socks. From February to April and from October to December they can choose between black open toe sandals without socks and bare feet.
This is what some of the children thought about their intermediate schools and what they like to do at school.
