Alfriston College, Manurewa (Auckland)

Key facts

About Alfriston College

Alfriston College is a secondary school located in South Auckland, New Zealand. The school's stated vision, expressed in te reo Māori as Te Ihi Ki Te Ako, translates to "Zest For Learning."

The school organises its community through Whaanau Groups, which it describes as central to building belonging, leadership, and support for students. Its principal holds the title Tumuaki, and the school grounds its identity in whakapapa, values, and a commitment to inclusive, personalised learning.

The school offers a purpose-designed learning environment that includes outdoor spaces intended to support flexible learning. Co-curricular activity is a stated part of school life, with student participation across sport, the arts, and other programmes.

Curriculum

Alfriston College covers Years 9 to 13. Junior learners (Years 9 and 10) participate in three distinct learning structures:

• Nests — full-year literacy and numeracy classes, organised by Whaanau group
• Pods — New Zealand Curriculum learning areas, with learners choosing two per term, each running three 90-minute lessons per week
• Flights — New Zealand Curriculum learning areas, with learners choosing three per term, each running one 90-minute lesson per week

In the senior school, Year 11 learners work towards NCEA Level 1. The year is split into two semesters; most courses run for one semester. Learners choose five courses per semester, with at least one semester each of Maths and English compulsory. Language courses run for the full year. Year 12 learners work towards NCEA Level 2, choosing five full-year courses, each typically offering 14–18 credits through a mix of internal and external assessments. Year 12 learners may also take a Pathway Course with a tertiary partner, studied off-site one day per week. Year 13 learners can study off-site for up to two days per week through Pathway Courses.

Additional senior programmes include the Gateway Programme, which provides workplace experience alongside NCEA credits, and STAR Courses, which offer NCEA credits in work-related fields through short-term courses during term time and school holidays.

Co-curricular Activities

Sport

Sport is offered across two seasons. The following codes are available in the summer season:

• Athletics
• Cricket (boys)
• Futsal
• Kilikiti
• Lawn Bowls
• Orienteering
• Softball
• Tag Football
• Touch
• Volleyball
• Waka Ama

The following codes are available in the winter season:

• Badminton
• Basketball
• Football
• Hockey
• Ki o Rahi
• Netball (girls)
• Rugby Union (senior boys, senior girls, and junior boys)
• Rugby Sevens (senior boys, senior girls, and junior boys)
• Wrestling

All learners also participate in an annual whole-school Inter-Whaanau Sports Day in February and a Junior School Inter-Whaanau Sports Day in December.

Performing and Visual Arts

Co-curricular arts activities have included participation in the following named competitions and events:

• Blueprint Dance Competition (Dance)
• College Dance Crew Championship (Dance)
• Hip Hop International NZ Nationals (Dance)
• Smokefree Tangata Beats — national finalists and national category winners (Music)
• Counties Manukau Secondary Schools' debating competition (Public Speaking)
• Auckland Secondary Schools' debating competition (Public Speaking)
• Word – the Front Line spoken word competition — finalists (Public Speaking)
• Kate Edger Foundation School Creative Competition (Visual Art)
• Auckland Library's Rangatahi Writing Te Ao Zine (Visual Art and Writing)
• Rangatahi South Exhibition (Visual Art)
• New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults Review Writing (Writing)

An annual showcase is held in the John Locke Theatre.

Cultural Groups

The following cultural groups are open to all learners and currently represent Alfriston College:

• Punjabi
• Indian
• Chinese
• Filipino
• Kapa Haka – Te Kahikatoa o Te Pae o Takaanini
• Niuean
• Samoan
• Tongan

Groups perform at Polyfest as well as at local schools and community events.

Student Support and Pastoral Care Services

Alfriston College provides the following named student support services:

• Wellbeing Team — Led by Rachel Caine, the team includes counsellors and youth workers who provide counselling, advocacy, restorative conversations, and mentoring. Services are available to learners, whānau, and associated community members during school hours. The team also works with outside agencies to further support learner wellbeing.
• Te Tari Waiora (The Health Centre) — Open 8:30am–3:30pm daily during term time, the Health Centre provides confidential healthcare including first aid, ACC injury management, wound care, sore throat assessment and treatment, chronic condition support (such as diabetes and asthma), vision screening, ear assessments, sexual health services, and referrals to external providers. Year 9 Health Assessments (HEEADSSS / Wellness Checks) are also conducted to support transition into secondary school, with assessments available for higher-risk learners at any year level.

Facilities

Alfriston College includes the following named and specialised facilities on site.

• John Locke Theatre — fitted with a gantry, sound booth, and retractable seating
• Susan Impey Library — also houses Pathways
• Te Pae o Takaanini — the school's wharenui, described as the heart of the school
• Well-being hub — home to Te Kaha o Roto counsellors and the health centre
• Music suite — includes practice rooms
• Dance and drama studios
• Digital technology suites
• Multi materials workshops
• Hospitality teaching spaces
• Science labs
• Gymnasium
• Astro-turf courts, basketball courts, and a beach volleyball court
• Kitchen and Māori medicinal gardens
• Sit-down cafeteria
• Commons areas
• Virtual Forest — forms the learner entrance to the school