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 23 fee-paying students, 21 from Korea and 2 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.