EDUCATION IN THE DISTRICT
There are a range of schools and educational facilities in the Queenstown Lakes District.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS
There are primary schools in Queenstown, Glenorchy and Arrowtown, with plans for more in the pipeline.
Queenstown Primary School is by far the largest in the district with a roll of around 640 pupils and 26 classrooms, in the heart of the town. A good range of facilities includes a small heated pool and extensive playing fields and the school is rated decile 10. Year 1-6, Robins Road, Queenstown. +64 3 442 9120 www.queenstown.school.nz
Arrowtown Primary School is an excellent primary school, built in 1997. New entrants to Year 8 students are catered for in a bright, modern and stimulating learning environment, and the school has a decile rating of 10. Year 1-8, corner of Durham and Caernarvan streets, Arrowtown. +64 3 442 1854 www.arrowtown.school.nz
St Joseph's School provides education in a catholic environment. A smaller school on the outskirts of central Queenstown, it has a roll of around 150 pupils and seven classrooms. The school is rated decile 10. Year 1 to 8, Beetham Street, Queenstown, +64 3 442 8224.
Southern Lakes Christian School provides parents with the opportunity to give their children an education based on Christian principles and values. The school started ten years ago with two families and one teacher -- the current role is 37 children and three teachers. In 2007 the school moved from its central Queenstown base to a new location in Frankton. www.southernlakes.school.nz
Frankton Primary School is in the early stages of development with plans for a school catering for approximately 400 pupils, set on reserve land near McBride Street in Frankton.
Glenorchy Primary School is a small country school in the tiny village of Glenorchy (population around 200), a fifty-minute drive from Queenstown at the head of Lake Wakatipu. The school is a full primary school with 18 pupils and is rated decile 9. Oban Street, Glenorchy +64 3 442 9900.
HIGH SCHOOLS
Wakatipu High School is a large school in the centre of Queenstown catering for approximately 830 multi-national students from Year 7 - 13. A high percentage of students gain entrance to University along with other qualifications, it offers a unique outdoor education programme and other options include membership of the NZ Alpine Sports Academy or International Student Programme. ESOL tuition is available to all non-English speaking students. Facilities include a heated indoor swimming pool, a gymnasium with specialist gymnastics room, a rock climbing wall, six outdoor tennis/netball courts, a modern technology room, a graphics suite with CAD, two computer suites and a range of specialist classrooms. Rated decile 10. 68 Fryer Street, Queenstown. +64 3 442 7370. www.wakatipu.school.nz
HIGHER EDUCATION
Queenstown Resort College is set in the heart of Queenstown overlooking Queenstown Gardens. QRC is New Zealand's first tertiary college dedicated to meeting the demands of an international tourist resort and offers a diverse range of world class courses and programmes including diplomas in Hospitality Management and Adventure Tourism Management, Internships, a range of English Language courses, leadership development programmes, Executive Education for professionals and short courses for visitors.
The college's five star facility was officially opened in March 2006 by the Minister of Tourism, Hon, Damien O'Connor and it is wholly New Zealand owned and operated.
Unlike other hotel management schools and colleges, QRC positions itself as a pathway college offering two formal diploma programmes in Hospitality Management and Adventure Tourism Management. Both have Degree options available through the International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS), Australia, the César Ritz Colleges, Switzerland and Thompson Rivers University, Canada. Call 508 40 5050 (free phone within NZ) or +64 3 409 0500 www.queenstownresortcollege.com
Otago Polytechnic has campuses in both Dunedin and Central Otago.
The main Central Otago campus is in Cromwell which is renowned for its stunning scenery and multi award-winning food and wine. An international hub for students specialising in catering, horticulture and tourism, the Cromwell campus attracts highly qualified and experienced tutors from around the world, due in part to the abundance of farming, horticulture, viticulture, and tourism operations on its doorstep. Other programmes on offer include Business and Computing.
Nearby is the Bannockburn Horticultural Unit, while mountain-based adventure courses are taught from Cardrona Alpine Resort and Mount Aspiring College in Wanaka. Computing courses are also offered in Queenstown as well as flexible and affordable relevant skills-based short courses to the hospitality industry provided jointly by Otago Polytechnic and Queenstown Resort College.
Free phone 0800 762 786 within NZ or 03 477 3014. www.otagopolytechnic.ac.nz
Schools And Colleges
