Welcome to Heaton Normal Intermediate School.
At our school we strive to provide the best possible education for your child. We want all our students to achieve to a high level and to leave our intermediate equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for success, not only at the next stage of their formal education but also as lifelong learners.
Early adolescence is a unique and special time of immense physical, intellectual, emotional and social development. These changes create specific needs and challenges that are significantly different from the needs of younger children or older adolescents. Our teachers are specialists at working with students in their early adolescence. The whole operation of our school is geared to meet the needs of this age group.
In particular, early adolescents enjoy learning about what is important and meaningful to them in an environment where they have some choice and a real say in what and how they learn. There also remains an emphasis on developing skills to a high level in literacy and numeracy.
A special feature of our school is our school-wide inquiry learning programme. For us, inquiry learning is not just a particular approach to teaching, it is a philosophy that underpins the way we do things at our school. Through this student-centred hands-on approach, students learn questioning, critical thinking and problem solving skills within the context of topics that are meaningful and purposeful for them. All these skills are critical for students to become independent, active and responsible learners. All students need these skills if they are going to become adaptable, confident and lifelong learners.
Every student has many new and different learning experiences to challenge and extend them. Every student has opportunities to develop areas of strength and talent and to strive for excellence in these areas - whether it is in academic subjects such as science and mathematics, or music, art, performing arts, leadership, technology, ICT or sport. We have a Gifted and Talented extension programme for our most capable students.
Our school is strongly based on the values of respect, responsibility and caring for others. We want every student to strive in an environment where there is real emphaisis on supportive, caring and encouraging relationships.
Andrea Knight
Principal
Heaton Nor
mal Intermediate School is a decile 9 school situated in the suburb of Merivale, Christchurch with a roll of 580 students, 55% girls and 45% boys (excluding fee–paying students). The school was established in 1948 for boys only and 1952 for girls and boys. Students contribute from 39 different schools throughout the Christchurch area with 75% coming from Elmwood Normal, Paparoa Street, St Albans and Waimari Primary Schools. 71% of students are New Zealand European, 8% New Zealand Maori, 4% British / Irish and 13% from other cultures. There are 13 fee-paying students, 12 from Korea and 1 from Japan.
Classes are grouped into six houses - Otahuna, Elmwood, Rhodes, Purau, Lansdowne and Tikau. There are three year 7 and three year 8 classes in each house making a total of 18 classes. Staff and students in each house work collaboratively under the professional leadership of a house coordinator. Each house selects student leaders who have a range of responsibilities around the school. There are seven specialist teachers in food and fibre technology, wood technology, metal and plastic technology, visual art, performing art, science and Te Teo Maori.