Clyde Quay School

State school in Wellington, New Zealand

41°17′45″S 174°47′05″E / 41.29583°S 174.78472°E / -41.29583; 174.78472InformationSchool typeState school Full primary schoolFoundedc. 1887FounderMr. W. T. GrundySchool boardMichelle Little (Chairperson)
Sarah Todd
Sue Bibby
Rona Lemalu
Chris Myatt
Andrew Neal
Neil Passey
Cameron Ross (Staff Representative)Ministry of Education Institution no.2827PrincipalLiz PataraStaff20 as of April 2024Teaching staff13 as of April 2024Years taughtPreschool to Year 8Age range5–13Average class size40LanguageEnglish and MāoriHours in school day6 hours 30 minutesFight songKo Matairangi (Haka)AthleticsYesSportsFootball, Basketball, Table tennis, Netball, Swimming, Softball, Rugby, Miniball, ChessSocio-economic decile10Websitehttps://clydequay.school.nzLast updated: May 2024

Clyde Quay School is a comprehensive state school in the suburb of Mount Victoria, Wellington, New Zealand. It serves students ranging in age from five to thirteen.[1] Approximately 240 children are enrolled as of April 2024.[1] The school shares its site with Pikopiko, a kindergarten which accommodates children aged 3 to 4.[1]

History

1800s – 1900s

The history of the school dates back to 1887, when the city was still in its early phases of development.[2] The school was designed by architect Thomas Turnbull in 1887, and in 1888 builders Thomson and Mclean constructed the first building on 38/2 Oriental Parade, Oriental Bay, at a cost of £ 2111,[3] equivalent to $NZ 300,000 as of December 2023[update]. Both main buildings were completed in March 1890.

Clyde Quay School from a bird's-eye view, c. 1908-1910

1920s

In 1923, a new school was built at Elizabeth Street in Mount Victoria, and the infant department moved there.[3]

Headmaster William Foster was honoured with an OBE in the 1923 New Years Honours.

1930s

On 21 December, 1935, the school made the decision to permanently close the original site on Oriental Parade because the site was required for the fire brigade to build a station. To farewell the original school, a jubilee and a final assembly of all former students took place at the school. The school's operations continued at the Elizabeth Street site without a change of name,[4] and the former school site now houses Wellington City Fire Station.[5]

  • Clyde Quay School jubilee, December 1935
    Clyde Quay School jubilee, December 1935
  • Clyde Quay School's last gathering before, December 1935
    Clyde Quay School's last gathering before, December 1935
  • Clyde Quay School in construction, December 1935
    Clyde Quay School in construction, December 1935

1980s

The Cure, an English rock band, is well known in the school's community for playing their songs in the basement of Clyde Quay School.

"The jam was very noisy, but a lot of fun. The Neoterics played a few of their songs with The Cure's Lol Tolhurst on drums, then The Cure themselves did a few of theirs and sounded like a real garage band. We then did one of my band's songs with Robert on bass and Lol on drums, finally packing it in around 3am." a member of another band said.[6]

1990s

New Zealand artist Robert Stewart painted numerous murals throughout the school which are still in place today.[7]

Experts Masaaki Mitani and Masahiro Yamada from Japan performed a Kendo display at the school.[8]

2010s

In 2012, students from Clyde Quay School were interviewed in the school library by the New Zealand comedy group Flight of the Conchords for lyrical ideas for their song Feel Inside (And Stuff Like That).

2020s

The principal has indicated that a hall relocation will take place in late 2024.

Ben Buchanan, a New Zealand artist, is currently painting new school murals, which are supposed to represent Clyde Quay School and its past. These murals will be displayed on the school's outer wall, replacing the previous ones.

Today

The schoolgrounds includes a library, a sports field, a hall, and recreational spaces.

Headmasters/Principals

Name Years served
W. T. Grundy 1889-1917
W. H. L. Foster 1917-1924
T. Irvine 1925-1929
M. J. O'Connor 1929-1934
J. J. Rodgers 1934-1940
F. Hayes 1943-?
Liz Patara 1999-present

Notable former students

  • Richard Campion (1923–2013), theatre director
  • Brenda Heather-Latu (born 1961), Attorney-General of Samoa
  • Rex Mason (1885–1975), politician
  • Marjory Nicholls (1890–1930), poet and playwright

References

  1. ^ a b c "Our community". clydequay.school.nz. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Clyde Quay School". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. New Zealand Times. 24 September 1887. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Old order changeth". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Evening Post. 4 December 1935. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  4. ^ "News in Brief—Perpetuating a School Name". The Dominion. 23 December 1935.
  5. ^ "NEW CENTRAL FIRE STATlON". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  6. ^ Stewart, Matt (4 August 2017). "Flashback: Fascination St - The Cure jam and party with Wellington's post-punks". Stuff. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Clyde Quay School Murals, Robert Stewart". Wellington City Libraries. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Kendo display at Clyde Quay School, Wellington". tiaki.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 10 February 2024.

External links

  • Clyde Quay School official website