International Students     |
Blue Mountain College International StudiesWelcomeIt is our pleasure to introduce Blue Mountain College to you.We are a traditional co-educational school that caters for students from Year 7 to Year 13. We have excellent teachers, a modern curriculum and first class facilities in a beautiful, spacious, rural environment. Our greatest advantage is our small numbers. With only 250 students, we are one big, happy family in which each individual is given all the attention and support they need. International students are warmly welcomed into our safe and friendly school. Each international student has an individual programme prepared in order to achieve their academic and life goals. International students are provided with every opportunity that our ‘Kiwi’ students experience, plus more! (see our Outdoor Experience page) We always aim to have a balance of cultures represented in our school and so have international students from around the world including currently, China, Hong Kong, Austria, Canada, Germany, and Thailand. Please contact us personally for further information. Garry Moody Mrs Gloria McHutchon ( TESOL) ReputationBlue Mountain College is known as a safe school. We provide excellent learning opportunities for all of our students, both international and domestic. Last year we received an excellent ERO report from the Ministry of Education, which emphasized our excellent strategies to adhere to the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students. In their report the Ministry of Education ERO team noted that; “Students benefit from the small size of the school.
Teachers have strong links with the supportive rural
community. These aspects of the school have resulted in a
caring, family-like atmosphere where individual needs of
students are carefully considered. Relationships
between teachers and the students are supportive and
respectful. Students help one another learn in
well-managed classes. They are engaged and involved in
their learning.
FacilitiesWe have excellent facilities including an ESOL classroom and a senior common room. Other facilities include computer suites/graphic design suite; science, chemistry and physics laboratories; music rooms, library and specialist technology rooms. There is a gymnasium, a school hall, access to the community swimming pool and extensive sports grounds. There is an 18 hole golf course next to the school grounds which is free for the students’ use. In fact all community facilities are available for school use, including our nationally renowned production theatre with excellent sound and lighting equipment. LocationWe are situated in a wonderful natural setting, within
the town of Tapanui, bordered by hills, forests and
beautiful farmland, between Invercargill, Queenstown and
Dunedin and just 30 minutes drive to the town of Gore. We
can arrange to meet and collect students arriving via the
International airports at Queenstown or
Dunedin.. Entry RequirementsThere are two requirements for entry. Firstly students need to sit our Placement Test. Secondly students need to present a copy of their two most recent school reports. English Language RequirementsA minimum level of English language is needed. This will be established when students sit our assessment test on arrival and then we arrange appropriate ESOL classes. We have an ESOL teacher who provides help for all levels of English ability. We can also provide a separate programme for students wishing to sit TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge qualifications. Extra one-to-one help is available on request. Academic ProgrammeThe priority at Blue Mountain College is excellence in
teaching and learning. The highly professional staff is
committed to providing encouragement and individual
assistance to our students in order that they achieve to
their potential. Our ESOL course includes:
Qualifications offeredStudents will be offered preparation classes for a variety of tertiary requirements, including National Certificate of Educational Achievement [NCEA] and IELTS if necessary. Entry to New Zealand UniversitiesStudents are required to pass at least 14 credits in each of 3 subjects at Level 3, NCEA and 4 credits in reading and 4 in writing at Level 2 English, a minimum of 14 credits in Level 1 Maths, NCEA. NZQA University Entrance Subjects AvailableThere is a wide range of subjects available at each year level. Co-Curricular ActivitiesThere is a wide variety of seasonal sports available including Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Cricket, Cross-country, Football, Golf, Hockey, Horse Riding, Ice Hockey, Mini-Ball, Moto-Cross, Mountain Biking, Multi Sport, Netball, Orienteering, Rugby, Skiing, Softball, Tennis, Touch, and Indoor and Outdoor Bowls. There are music groups including Kapa Haka and bands. Drama is a strength of our school and we have a production each year. Pastoral CareWe have a staff member directly responsible for taking care of all of our international students’ needs. Mrs Gloria McHutchon is responsible for the students’ orientation and she also arranges for the student to have a “kiwi buddy” in the first few weeks to help the student settle into our school culture. We also offer help in arranging student finances, visas and medical insurance and support for students wanting to go on to tertiary institutions. We provide regular updates on each student’s progress to parents. We are a signatory to the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students. Copies of this code are available in several languages at The Ministry of Education - International Education AccommodationWe provide homestay accommodation for NZ $200 per week. Mrs Gloria McHutchon, takes care of accommodation and associated requirements, and all accommodation is in carefully selected, safe homestays. Homestay families are located within the Tapanui township within walking distance of the school, or in the surrounding countryside where the student can use the free school bus service. Most homes are single storey with a garden. We work hard to ensure that the homestay arrangement is a positive and enjoyable experience for everyone. Photo to come.. ProspectusAdditional information is contained in our prospectus, click here to load the prospectus page. The school yearAll New Zealand schools have a four-term year. The year begins near the beginning of February and ends in early December for the junior school and mid-November for senior students. Senior exams are held throughout November and early December. We strongly recommend that students arrive in time for the start of the school year, when course work begins.
A printable .PDF copy of this page is available here |
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Blue
Mountain College |
Blue Mountain College State Highway 90 Tapanui, West Otago, 9522 New Zealand. Phone +64 3 204 8358 Fax +64 3 204 8797 |
