Principal’s Greeting

Welcome to James Hargest College. A place where academic excellence meets a foundational commitment to our shared values. Spanning the formative years from Year 7 through to Year 13, our College provides a progressive journey. Students grow and learn at JHC within a holistic culture of support, care and challenge.

A unique advantage of the James Hargest experience is our dual-campus structure. Our Year 7 and 8 students benefit from a dedicated Junior Campus environment. By having access to specialist facilities and expert teachers tailored to this age group, our students build a strong educational platform and strong sense of personal identity. This focused start ensures students develop the confidence and skills needed to flourish as they transition through the College.

As students move to our Senior Campus, they are met with a curriculum offering academic rigour and a broad range of pathways. We maintain high expectations for every learner, fostering a culture where hard work and intellectual curiosity are celebrated. Our students consistently achieve highly, with many pursuing NZQA Scholarship levels across a diverse range of subjects. We offer significant academic depth and breadth, from specialist sciences in our new purpose built learning environment to the creative arts and vocational trades, all supported by expert teaching staff who are dedicated to preparing students for their life beyond the school gates. Every JHC student has the platform to excel and opportunities to build the resilience needed to meet the challenges of their future.

At the heart of both Campuses is The Hargest Way, a framework of communal values that guides our students to act with integrity, hard work, and mutual respect. Built on the principles of manaakitanga (kindness) and whanaungatanga (belonging), this environment ensures that every student can build a true sense of both self and place.

We pride ourselves on being a school for everyone. Whether a student’s passion lies in academic scholarships, the performing arts, sporting endeavours, cultural celebrations, service activities, leadership, outdoor education, or the myriad of specialist and innovation clubs and activities that exist within our kura, there is a pathway here to to thrive. This inclusive approach ensures that every individual can find their niche and reach their full potential within our supportive Hargest whānau.

Guided by our school motto, We keep faith | Ka whakapono tonu atu mātou, we are committed to helping our students achieve our Mission to “create the best possible future for themselves and their world.”

We look forward to meeting you soon.

Kā mihi
Anna McDowall