Shirley Boys' High School
State single sex boys secondary school
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shirley Boys' High School (Māori: Ngā Tama o Ōruapaeroa), also known as SBHS, is a single-sex state (public) secondary school in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was originally situated on a six-hectare (15-acre) site in the suburb of Shirley, but in April 2019 moved, along with Avonside Girls' High School, further east to the former QEII Park, 8.6 kilometres (5.3 mi) from the city centre.[3]
(In everyone’s interests to act rightly)
| Shirley Boys' High School | |
|---|---|
Māori: Ngā Tama o Ōruapaeroa | |
| |
 | |
| Location | |
 | |
209 Travis Road Christchurch New Zealand | |
| Information | |
| Type | State single sex boys secondary |
| Motto | Latin: Interest Omnium Recte Facere (In everyone’s interests to act rightly) |
| Established | 1957 |
Ministry of Education Institution no. | 321 |
Chairman | Iaean Cranwell |
| Headmaster | Tim Grocott |
| Grades | 9–13 |
| Enrollment | 1,315[1] (July 2026) |
| Colors | Blue and Gold |
Socio-economic decile | 6N[2] |
| Website | shirley.school.nz |
Brief history
Parents in the eastern and northern suburbs of Christchurch had wanted single-sex education for their sons. In 1957, this finally became available when the school opened under its first Headmaster, Charles Gallagher.
Established on a swampy paddock formerly used for grazing horses to the west of North Parade, the School grew rapidly. Within a few years it became a self-confessed and proud rival to Christchurch Boys' High School as well as to St. Andrew's and St Bede's College.[4]
A detailed satirical portrait of the school as it was in the late 1960s can be found in The Shining City, a novel by former student Stevan Eldred-Grigg.[5]
On the Easter weekend (April) of 2007, Shirley Boys' High School celebrated its 50th Jubilee. Commemorative events included an Old Boys' XV playing the current 2nd XV and the 1st XV playing in historic uniform against St. Andrew's College; as well as a golf tournament, formal black-tie dinner, staff luncheon and 'meet-and-greet evening'.
2011 earthquake
During the magnitude 6.3 quake on 22 February the school suffered extensive damage[6][7] and had to close. At least two classroom blocks were expected to be demolished, and all of the concrete areas of the school, including the new tennis courts, were badly damaged.
The students did not attend school for almost a month afterwards, before the decision was made to shift its pupils to Papanui High School[8] – with Papanui High School's students changing to attend classes from 8 am until 1 pm, while the Shirley Boys' High School students entered the school at 1.15 pm and finished at 5.45 pm. After about 6 months of this arrangement[9] pupils were able to return to the re-opened school in early September 2011.[10]
Move to new site
Education Minister Hekia Parata announced on 16 October 2013 that the school would move, and be co-located with Avonside Girls' High School at a site in east Christchurch.[11] On 12 February 2015 the site was announced to be the former QEII Park site.[12]
The move to the new site was completed in April 2019.[3]
Enrolment
As of July 2026, Shirley Boys' High School has roll of 1,315 students, of which 315 (24.0%) identify as Māori.[1]
As of 2026, the school has an Equity Index of 464,[13] placing it amongst schools whose students have average socioeconomic barriers to achievement (roughly equivalent to deciles 5 and 6 under the former socio-economic decile system).[14]
Houses
| Aoraki | Named after Aoraki / Mount Cook, the largest peak in New Zealand. | |
| Mullins | Named after Mr. Mullins, Former Deputy Headmaster. | |
| Snell | Named after Peter Snell, New Zealand athlete. | |
| Blake | Named after Peter Blake, New Zealand sailor and conservationist. |
Headmasters
Since its foundation in 1957, Shirley Boys' High School has had five headmasters. The following is a complete list:[15]
| Name | Term | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Gallagher | 1957–1969 |
| 2 | Murray Denholm | 1970–1986 |
| 3 | Denis Cocks | 1987–1996 |
| 4 | John Laurenson | 1996–2019 |
| 5 | Tim Grocott | 2020–present |
Notable alumni
- Nathan Astle, former New Zealand cricketer
- Tahlor Cahill, current Canterbury, Crusaders and Maori All Blacks rugby player
- Tom Christie, former Crusader and current Newcastle Red Bulls rugby player
- Ryan Crotty, former Crusaders and All Blacks rugby player
- Stevan Eldred-Grigg, New Zealand novelist and historian
- Aaron Gilmore, former Member of Parliament
- Craig Green, former All Blacks rugby Player
- Jamayne Isaako, current Dolphins rugby league player
- Chris Jack, former All Blacks rugby player
- Dave Jaggar, computer scientist and James Clerk Maxwell Medal winner
- Brodie McAlister, current Chiefs and All Blacks XV rugby player
- Hugh McCutcheon, former assistant athletic director/sport development coach for the University of Minnesota
- Craig McMillan, former New Zealand cricketer
- Eden Mulholland, composer and dancer[16]
- Richard Petrie, former New Zealand cricketer
- Setaimata Sa, former rugby league player
- Steve Scott, former Canterbury and All Blacks rugby player
- Bradley Shaw, former Black Sticks hockey player
- Hayden Shaw, former Black Sticks hockey player
- Makaia Tafua, current New Zealand Warriors rugby league player
- Duncan Webb, lawyer and politician[17]