Te Aratai College, Phillipstown (Christchurch)

Key facts

About Te Aratai College

Te Aratai College is a state secondary school located on Aldwins Road, Phillipstown, Christchurch. The school opened in 1954 as Linwood High School and operated under successive names — Linwood College (2000), Linwood College at Ōtākaro (2019) — before adopting its current name in 2022 following a complete rebuild of the school.

The name Te Aratai College was gifted by Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga and translates as "pathway to the sea." It references the historic route along what is now Linwood Avenue to Te Ihutai, the Avon-Heathcote Estuary — a significant mahinga kai (food-gathering place) traditionally owned and used by Ngāi Tūāhuriri, a relationship acknowledged under the Claims Settlement Act 1998. The school's catchment follows the Ōtākaro (Avon) and Ōpāwaho (Heathcote) waterways, which flow into Te Ihutai.

The school is connected to two Kāhui Ako (Communities of Learning): Tamai, Linwood-Woolston-Bromley and Aupaki, Heathcote and the Bays. Its stated vision is Mauri Ora through ako, underpinned by four values: manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, rangatiratanga, and tūrangawaewae. The school describes its approach as place-based and focused on personalised learning pathways for individual students.

Curriculum and Subjects

Te Aratai College covers Years 7 to 13. The school describes its approach as a "pathwayed curriculum," in which learning is connected to students' post-school plans.

Years 7–8 (Tāhuhu)

The Year 7–8 programme combines home-room learning — using differentiated groups to develop literacy and numeracy — with specialist subjects taught in specialist rooms.

Years 9–10

Classes are generally mixed ability. Named subject areas include:

• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Science
• Technology
• Music
• Drama
• Visual Arts
• Physical Education and Health
• Languages

Years 11–13

Senior students work toward NCEA Levels 2 and 3. The school has tertiary partnerships with the University of Canterbury and Ara. Dual pathway programmes allow students to study at tertiary level for one or two days per week while completing NCEA, with named vocational areas including Construction, Hospitality, Engineering, and Landscaping.

Student Support and Pastoral Care Services

Te Aratai College provides a range of named student support and pastoral care services.

• Ako groups: Vertical groups of learners who meet briefly most days with their kaiārahi (form teacher). Once a week the group meets for an additional hour focused on a specialised curriculum covering whānaungatanga, New Zealand Curriculum competencies, and personal agency. These groups are organised under four houses.
• Deans: House deans support kaiārahi and their ako groups, working alongside the guidance department and senior leadership team.
• Guidance Department: Staffed by three NZAC-approved counsellors who are also registered teachers, and two registered social workers, providing social and emotional wellbeing support.
• 24/7 Youth Workers: A team of five youth workers offering one-to-one mentoring and social skills group work, contactable via guidance@tearatai.school.nz.
• Nurse Maude nurses: Two registered nurses on site every day.
• Partnership Community Workers (PCWs): Support primary health care needs including enrolling with a GP, and accessing dental and vision support.
• Learning Acceleration: A department staffed by 14 Learning Assistants, four specialist teachers, and a Learning Support Coordinator, providing in-class support and alternative learning pathways for students who need additional learning support.