Horsham Downs Primary School

General information

Horsham Downs is a decile 10 full primary school with 14 classrooms and a roll of approx. 360 students.

Over the last four years the school has seen an exciting period of roll growth and redevelopment. Our school community encompasses families living within the Hamilton North suburbs, on lifestyle blocks and farms. Over 70% of the student body lives within the city boundary. The school is proud of its long history as a rural school established in 1916. This still shapes its essential character today.

The school has a strong vision to nurture 21st century learners within a well established school culture. Our motto: ‘Building Pathways for Success,’ underpins our vision to provide a child centred education in partnership with the school community. It also places an expectation on students to take an active role in forging their own pathways to success through the choices that they are encouraged to make as Horsham Downs Learners.

Foundation learning in literacy and numeracy is a key focus in our teaching programmes supported by a two year framework of conceptual themes covering the disciplines of science, social studies, technology, the arts, health and physical education. The school also offers many co curricula opportunities such as instrumental groups, choir, kapahaka; plus a range of sporting activities through our affiliation with the Eastern Waikato Country Schools’ Association. Students who cannot easily meet learning expectations are carefully monitored and supported with special programmes. Students with particular talents are extended in a variety of ways.

The regular reports to the Board/community and the quality of teaching described in the most recent Education Review Office report provide an assurance that our students are achieving at a high level.

Maintaining a safe and supportive environment for students goes hand in hand with promoting learning and achievement. Our ‘Horsham Downs Learner’ model and our code of conduct provide a positive direction for our students. A mutual respect ethic is evident throughout the school.

As a full primary school, Horsham Downs offers continuity of education from the new entrant level to Year 8 (Form 2) and many leadership opportunities for the senior intermediate age students.

The school has an enrolment scheme based on a very large ‘home zone’. Because of the size of the zone and the pattern of recent roll growth it is likely that the Board of Trustees will only be able to provide ‘out of zone’ spaces for siblings of currently enrolled students for the next few years. Public notice of this is given annually at the end of September. Students who are ‘in zone’ have an automatic right to enroll. A copy of the enrolment zone and the enrolment criteria are available on our website.