Botany Downs Secondary College

Botany Downs Secondary College (BDSC)
Address
575 Chapel Road, East Tamaki, Auckland, New Zealand
Coordinates	36°56′04″S174°54′58″E / 36.934370°S 174.915984°E / -36.934370; 174.915984
Information
Funding type	State (not integrated)
Motto	"Maximising achievement through intellectual growth"
Opened	January 2004 (2004-01)
Ministry of Education Institution no.	6930
Principal	Karen Brinsden
Years offered	9–13
Gender	Coeducational
School roll	1,910 [1] (November 2024)
Socio-economic decile	9Q [2]
Website	www.bdsc.school.nz

Botany Downs Secondary College at night

Botany Downs Secondary College is a state coeducational secondary school located in East Tamaki, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. The school opened in 2004 as a result of new residential development in the eastern Auckland area. Serving Years 9 to 13, the school has a roll of approximately 1,910 students. ^[1]

History

Botany Downs Secondary College was announced with a notice published in the New Zealand Gazette by Education Minister Trevor Mallard on 12 November 2001, with the working name Howick South Secondary School. ^[3] The school opened in January 2004, initially taking Year 9 students only. The remaining school years opened as the 2004 Year 9 students moved through, with the school fully opening at the beginning of 2008.

Logo

The logo design uses the circles of the Beta and Delta characters from the Greek alphabet.

• The inner circle represents the student.
• The outer circle represents the nurturing and educating by the teacher.
• The overlapping circles echo the traditional role of the educator and the student.
• The outer shape links the circles, envelops the whole school community and is pointing towards the future.^{[ citation needed ]}

Whanau system

The Whanau system in BDSC contains 4 Whanau, with the later addition of Britten and Koru.

• Koru Whanau (Green)
• John Britten Whanau (Black)
• Spirit Whanau (Purple)
• Discovery Whanau (Blue)
• Endeavour Whanau (Yellow)
• Sir Peter Blake Whanau (Red)

Demographics

Roll by year level and ethnic group, as of 1 July 2023

Funding year level	Māori	Pacific	Asian	MELAA	Other	European/ Pākehā	International students	Total
Year 9	22	27	200	19	6	121	4	349
Year 10	17	29	195	13	4	125	17	356
Year 11	25	40	216	21	3	167	28	428
Year 12	20	24	178	13	2	114	16	331
Year 13+	12	23	156	17	0	89	10	270
Total	96	143	945	83	15	616	75	1,734

In the 2023 Census, 54.5% of students ethnically identified as Asian, and 35.5% as European/Pākehā. Other major ethnic groups include Pacific (8.2%), Māori (5.5%), Middle Eastern, Latin American, African (MELAA) (4.8%), and other (0.8%). International students were included but separated, with 4.3% of students having been affiliated with an international status. ^[4] The roll data presented is based on roll returns from the Ministry of Education as of 1 July 2023, reporting over 1,734 students, including domestic students who are affiliated with a single or multiple ethnic groups and international students. ^[4]

Notable alumni

Main category: People educated at Botany Downs Secondary College

• Tafito Lafaele – rugby union player
• Ben Nee-Nee – rugby union player

References

1. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
2. "Decile Change 2014 to 2015 for State & State Integrated Schools". Ministry of Education. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
3. Mallard, Trevor (29 November 2001). "Establishment of a New School". New Zealand Gazette . 2001 (161). New Zealand Government: 3935.
4. Counts, Education. "Ministry of Education - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz. Retrieved 8 May 2024.

External links

• Botany Downs Secondary College official site
• Education Review Office (ERO) reports for Botany Downs Secondary College
• Botany downs Secondary College at New Zealand Educated