Epsom Girls Grammar School is a state secondary school for girls ranging from years 9 to 13 in Auckland, New Zealand. It has a roll of 2,200 as of 2024, including a number of boarders who live in nearby Epsom House, making it one of the largest schools in New Zealand.
| Epsom Girls' Grammar School | |
|---|---|
 Epsom Girls' Grammar School and Ōhinerau / Mount Hobson seen from Maungawhau / Mount Eden | |
| Address | |
 | |
Silver Road, Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Coordinates | 36°52′38″S 174°46′28″E / 36.87722°S 174.77444°E |
| Information | |
| Type | State Single Sex Girls Secondary (Year 9–13) with Boarding Facilities |
| Motto | Latin: Per Angusta, Ad Augusta (Through difficulties to greatness.) |
| Established | 12 February 1917 |
| Sister school | Auckland Grammar School |
| Ministry of Education Institution no. | 64 |
| Principal | Brenda McNaughton |
| School roll | 2,206[2] (February 2024) |
| Colour(s) | Navy and gold |
| Socio-economic decile | 9Q[1] |
| Website | Epsom Girls Grammar School |
The principal is Brenda McNaughton, the 12th principal, who succeeded Lorraine Pound in 2024.[3][4] She succeeds a long line of distinguished educators such as Margaret Bendall and Marjory Adams.[5]
History edit
Epsom Girls' Grammar School was established through an endowment of land in 1850 and officially opened on 12 February 1917 with 174 students.[6] Establishing Epsom Girls' was described as a "struggle", as "despite a clear need for a second girls’ school in Auckland, education administrators continued to prioritise boys’ education. Eventually EGGS emerged as an old, adapted Villa and a handful of classrooms on the Silver Road site. When the doors opened in 1917 the School had already exceeded capacity."[7]
The Old Girls Association was established in 1921, and holds a number of events each year for alumnae.[8]
In 2021, Metro (magazine) reported that Epsom Girls Grammar School was the top performing non-religious state school in Auckland over the last five years (based on Ministry of Education data of the five-year average of university entrance attainment).[9]
Property prices in the Epsom Girls Grammar School and Auckland Grammar School school zones (known as the "double Grammar zone") are particularly high - Epsom Girls is the second most expensive school zone to buy in within Auckland (with the first being Auckland Grammar School).[10]
Principals edit
- Annie Christina Morrison 1917–1929[11]
- Agnes L. Laudon 1930–1947
- Margaret G. Johnston 1948–1952
- Marjory F.E. Adams 1953–1970
- Alisa M. Blakey 1970–1979
- Gae E. Griffiths 1979–1988
- Verna E. Dowdle 1988–1996
- Margaret A. Bendall 1996–2004
- Annette Sharp 2005–2008
- Madeline J. Gunn 2008–2016
- Lorraine Pound 2016–2023
- Brenda McNaughton 2024–present
Notable alumnae edit
- Petra Bagust – television presenter[12]
- Joan Chapple – first New Zealand female plastic surgeon
- Helen Clark – 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand and former administrator of the United Nations Development Programme[13]
- Miriam Dell – President, National Council of Women[12]
- Jeanette Fitzsimons – politician and former co-leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
- Taylor Flavell – professional squash player
- Kate Hawkesby – television presenter and radio broadcaster
- Hayley Holt – television presenter
- Rowena Jackson MBE – ballerina and later artistic director of the New Zealand Ballet Company
- Dorothy Jelicich – Member of Parliament for Hamilton West (1972–1975)
- Maggie Jenkins – New Zealand representative footballer
- Annalie Longo – International and professional footballer
- Marya Martin – flautist[12]
- Moana Manley – swimmer and Miss New Zealand winner
- Joan Metge – anthropologist[12]
- Ingrun Helgard Moeckel – German model and Miss Germany winner
- Hannah O'Neill – principal ballerina at the Paris Opera Ballet[14]
- Susan Moller Okin – feminist philosopher
- Charlotte Piho – Cook Islands photographer
- Judith Potter – former High Court judge
- Suzanne Sinclair – Member of Parliament for Titirangi (1993–1996)
- Wilma Smith – lead violinist in the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
- Jean Spencer – Olympic gymnast
- Freda Stark – dancer[15]
- Chlöe Swarbrick – politician and co-leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
- Rima Te Wiata – comedian and actress[16]
- Olivia Tennet – actress, dancer
- Karen Walker – fashion designer[17]
- Augusta Wallace – first woman appointed to the judiciary in New Zealand
- Lois White – artist[18]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Decile Change 2014 to 2015 for State & State Integrated Schools". Ministry of Education. Archived from the original on 24 January 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ "Senior Leadership Team". Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ^ Lynn, Alastair (27 January 2016). "Lorraine Pound takes the reins at Epsom Girls Grammar School". Stuff (company). Retrieved 10 July 2019.
- ^ Robyn Langwell (23 December 2007). "Principal's shock exit from Epsom Girls". The New Zealand Herald.
- ^ "Our History". Epsom Girls Grammar School. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Our History". Epsom Girls Grammar School. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Epsom Girls Grammar School Old Girls Association Inc". Epsom Girls Grammar School Old Girls Association Inc. Online Community. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ Inderbitzen-Waller, Karen. "Metro — The Best Schools in Auckland". www.metromag.co.nz. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "$2m-plus: Prices soar in top school zones". NZ Herald. 23 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu Taonga. "Morrison, Annie Christina". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Founders' Awards" (PDF). 2007.
- ^ "Helen Clark | Biography & Facts". Encyclopædia Britannica.
- ^ "Kiwi ballerina Hannah O'Neill wins top dance prize". The New Zealand Herald. 18 May 2016. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- ^ "Stark, Freda Beatrice – Biography – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand". teara.govt.nz.
- ^ "Rima Te Wiata". Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- ^ Hewitson, Michele (20 June 2007). "Genius at work – Karen Walker". The New Zealand Herald.
- ^ "White, Anna Lois – Biography – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand". teara.govt.nz.
Book of Memories: Epsom Girls Grammar School 1917–1992
Epsom Girls Grammar School golden jubilee 1917–1967