Botany Downs Secondary College
School in Auckland, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Botany Downs Secondary College is a state coeducational secondary school located in East Tamaki, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. The school opened in 2004 as a result of new residential development in the eastern Auckland area. Serving Years 9 to 13, the school has a roll of approximately 1,991 students.[1]
| Botany Downs Secondary College (BDSC) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
 | |
575 Chapel Road, East Tamaki, Auckland, New Zealand 36.934370°S 174.915984°E | |
| Information | |
| Funding type | State (not integrated) |
| Motto | "Knowledge with Character" |
| Opened | January 2004 |
Ministry of Education Institution no. | 6930 |
Principal | Karen Brinsden |
Years offered | 9–13 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Enrollment | 1,991[1] (March 2026) |
Socio-economic decile | 9Q[2] |
| Website | www |
History
Botany Downs Secondary College was announced with a notice published in the New Zealand Gazette by Education Minister Trevor Mallard on 12 November 2001, with the working name Howick South Secondary School.[3] The school opened in January 2004, initially taking Year 9 students only. The remaining school years opened as the 2004 Year 9 students moved through, with the school fully opening at the beginning of 2008.
Logo
- The inner circle represents the student.
- The outer circle represents the nurturing and educating by the teacher.
- The overlapping circles echo the traditional role of the educator and the student.
- The outer shape links the circles, envelops the whole school community and is pointing towards the future.[citation needed]
Whanau system
The Whanau system in Botany Downs Secondary College has a total of 6 houses. These houses include:
- Sir Peter Blake (Red House)
- Endeavour (Yellow House)
- Koru (Green House)
- Discovery (Blue House)
- Spirit (Purple House)
- John Britten (Black House)
Enrolment
In the 2023 Census, 54.5% of students ethnically identified as Asian, and 35.5% as European/Pākehā. Other major ethnic groups include Pacific (8.2%), Māori (5.5%), Middle Eastern, Latin American, African (MELAA) (4.8%), and other (0.8%). International students were included but separated, with 4.3% of students having been affiliated with an international status.[4] The roll data presented is based on roll returns from the Ministry of Education as of 1 July 2023, reporting over 1,734 students, including domestic students who are affiliated with a single or multiple ethnic groups and international students.[4]
As of March 2026, Botany Downs Secondary College has a roll of 1,991 students, of which 76 (3.8%) identify as Māori.[1]
As of 2026, the school has an Equity Index of 403,[5] placing it amongst schools whose students have few socioeconomic barriers to achievement (roughly equivalent to deciles 8 and 9 under the former socio-economic decile system).[6]
Notable alumni
- Tafito Lafaele – rugby union player
- Ben Nee-Nee – rugby union player
- Harlyn Saunoa – rugby union player
- Tone Ng Shiu – rugby union player
- Xavier Saifoloi – rugby union player