School Profile
| 10 May 2009
College Street Normal School is a contributing school established in 1893 with a current grading roll of 570 and a staff of 30 teachers including a Normal School Special Duties position.
As a Normal school (from L’Ecole Normale – the style of French Teacher’s College) we have a close association with Massey University College of Education. All teachers are required to maintain high professional standards so as to be the very best exemplars for student teachers. As associate teachers, the staff coach trainee teachers as they develop their teaching skills. Occasionally teachers work with trainees at the University.
The teachers at C.S.N.S. are appointed not only because of their excellence as classroom practitioners, but also often because they have additional strengths in music, cultural and other curriculum areas. It is because of these staffing strengths that the school is able to offer the children opportunities for high level performance in assemblies, cultural activities, Science and Technology Fairs and in sport.
The school has a disproportionate number of academically very able students with many children excelling each year in National and Australasian competitions. Their needs are catered for both within the classroom and through an expansive ‘Children with Special Abilities’ programme. The school also has a very robust and comprehensive special needs programme that caters for the needs of pupils with learning difficulties.
The majority of students are of European origin with approximately 3% Maori; 5% Indian/Pakistani/Sri Lankan; 8% South East Asian.
The school buildings are generally well maintained with a number of classes having been either remodelled or refurbished in recent years. A further group of classrooms is due for refurbishing and/or remodelling within the next year or so. A new school hall/auditorium is to be built in 2010.
Other facilities include a library/computer suite, large grassed playground areas, a swimming pool and two adventure playgrounds.