New International students recently toured Hamilton City by bus, to familiarise them with key locations in the city.Deputy Headmaster Mr Hotham, and Dean of International Students, Mrs Thornton, admire the rugby trophies won by HBHS. 

 

About HBHS

We welcome students from the international community to our school. We have enjoyed a proud history of association with international parents and their sons for over ten years, and we hope to continue this association well into the new millennium.

This page summarises the school's main characteristics. If you would like an enrolment pack and prospectus mailed to you, please click here.

Fees for 2011

 $12,400 tuition + $500 administration fee (1 year).

  •  Uniform / stationary – approximately $700.
  •  Medical / travel insurance ( 1 year) $500.
  •  Hostel Fees (1 year) $9,600 + $1,150 holiday Homestay fees.
  •  Homestay fees (for full board) $210 per week.
  •  Airport transfer to Auckland airport $75 one way.

General

  • Traditional state boys' school
  • Students from years 9 - 13 (Form 3 -7)
  • Strong academic focus
  • Proud history of sporting and cultural success
  • Extensive facilities including on-site hostel
  • International centre offering guidance and support
  • Strong network of homestay parents & families
  • Close to city centre
  • 90 minutes from Auckland International Airport
  • The International Centre's new building houses classrooms, tuition room, a large foyer and the Dean of International Students' office.

Academic

  • Fine academic results
  • Wide range of subjects at all levels
  • Courses to suit students' needs
  • Strong pastoral/guidance network
  • Excellent tertiary/career advice
  • IELTS Academic class
  • ESOL classes
  • Extra tuition available
  • High teacher expectations
  • Dean of International Students
  • NCEA and Cambridge examinations

Sport

  • School is on a 20 hectare site
  • 24 sports available winter and summer
  • 3 gymnasiums and 4 basketball courts
  • Outdoor swimming pool
  • Strong inter-house competition
  • All students encouraged to play sport
  • Excellent coaching at reasonable rates
  • A Hillary Commission Sport Fit School
  • Fitness Centre

Arts & Culture

  • School orchestra and chamber groups and choir
  • Film & Television classes
  • Jazz and Rock bands
  • Individual music tuition available
  • Annual theatrical production with Hamilton Girls' High School
  • Theatresports teams
  • Public Speaking
  • Kapa Haka
  • Young Enterprise
  • Debating
  • Newspaper
  • Chess
  • Drama classes

Features of programmes for International Students.

  • Winner of National Award “Support and Care of International Students” 2006.
  • Choice of a wide range of academic subjects at all levels in the school.
  • NCEA, CIE and City and Guild examinations available, appropriate to a student’s ability.
  • Dean of International Students is in constant contact with students, parents off-shore, Homestay families, and teaching staff, to ensure that every International Students is supported, happy, and successful.
  • Experienced and caring ESOL staff.
  • Students can enrol throughout the school year.
  • Free extra tuition is available to any International student needing this help.
  • Cultural groups, who meet weekly.

National Excellence Award Winners

International student numbers may be plummeting but Hamilton Boys' High School has won the national excellence award for student support. Mrs Bev Thornton (right), Dean of International students, is delighted with the award which she says shows the high level of care the school offers.

This accolade was the most hotly contested category of the awards and would give the school a marketing edge when competing for the international student dollar.

Hamilton Boys' High's 'carefully integrated' approach to ensure students settle in at school and in home stay accommodation clinched the title. It goes to considerable lengths to keep parents involved through visits to their home countries.

This year the school has almost 50 international students which is up on last year's figure.

Mrs Thornton set up the school's international students programme in 1992 with former headmaster Jim Bennett.

Bev travels to the homelands of students once a year to hold meetings with parents and much of her time is spent e-mailing progress reports, speaking with parents on the telephone and writing letters. There needs to be a close, supportive relationship with all involved as the parents need to be a part of the school community.