Botany Downs Secondary College

Botany Downs Secondary College (BDSC)
Location
575 Chapel Road, East Tamaki, Auckland, New Zealand

36°56′04″S 174°54′58″E / 36.934370°S 174.915984°E / -36.934370; 174.915984
Information
Funding typeState (not integrated)
Motto"Knowledge with Character"
OpenedJanuary 2004 (2004-01)
Ministry of Education Institution no.
6930
Principal
Karen Brinsden
Years offered
9–13
GenderCoeducational
Enrollment1,994[1] (July 2026)
Socio-economic decile
9Q[2]
Websitewww.bdsc.school.nz
Botany Downs Secondary College at night

Botany Downs Secondary College is a state coeducational secondary school located in East Tamaki, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. The school opened in 2004 as a result of new residential development in the eastern Auckland area. Serving Years 9 to 13, the school has a roll of approximately 1,994 students.[1]

History

Botany Downs Secondary College was announced with a notice published in the New Zealand Gazette by Education Minister Trevor Mallard on 12 November 2001, with the working name Howick South Secondary School.[3] The school opened in January 2004, initially taking Year 9 students only. The remaining school years opened as the 2004 Year 9 students moved through, with the school fully opening at the beginning of 2008.

  • The inner circle represents the student.
  • The outer circle represents the nurturing and educating by the teacher.
  • The overlapping circles echo the traditional role of the educator and the student.
  • The outer shape links the circles, envelops the whole school community and is pointing towards the future.

Whanau system

The Whanau system in Botany Downs Secondary College has a total of 6 houses. These houses include:

  • Sir Peter Blake (Red House)
  • Endeavour (Yellow House)
  • Koru (Green House)
  • Discovery (Blue House)
  • Spirit (Purple House)
  • John Britten (Black House)

Enrolment

In the 2023 Census, 54.5% of students ethnically identified as Asian, and 35.5% as European/Pākehā. Other major ethnic groups include Pacific (8.2%), Māori (5.5%), Middle Eastern, Latin American, African (MELAA) (4.8%), and other (0.8%). International students were included but separated, with 4.3% of students having been affiliated with an international status.[4] The roll data presented is based on roll returns from the Ministry of Education as of 1 July 2023, reporting over 1,734 students, including domestic students who are affiliated with a single or multiple ethnic groups and international students.[4]

As of July 2026, Botany Downs Secondary College has a roll of 1,994 students, of which 77 (3.9%) identify as Māori.[1]

As of 2026, the school has an Equity Index of 403,[5] placing it amongst schools whose students have few socioeconomic barriers to achievement (roughly equivalent to deciles 8 and 9 under the former socio-economic decile system).[6]

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 3 "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "Decile Change 2014 to 2015 for State & State Integrated Schools". Ministry of Education. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  3. ↑ Mallard, Trevor (29 November 2001). "Establishment of a New School". New Zealand Gazette. 2001 (161). New Zealand Government: 3935.
  4. 1 2 Counts, Education. "Ministry of Education - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  5. ↑ "New Zealand Equity Index". New Zealand Ministry of Education.
  6. ↑ "School Equity Index Bands and Groups". www.educationcounts.govt.nz. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
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