King's College (Latin: Collegium Regis; Māori: Kīngi Kāreti), often informally referred to simply as King's, is an independent secondary boarding and day school in New Zealand. It educates over 1000 pupils, aged 13 to 18 years. King's was originally a single sex boys school but has admitted girls in the Sixth and Seventh forms (Years 12 and 13) since 1980, and in the Fifth form (Year 11) since 2016.[3] King's was founded in 1896 by Graham Bruce. King's was originally situated in Remuera, Auckland, on the site now occupied by King's School, Remuera, in 1922 the school moved to its present site in the South Auckland suburb of Ōtāhuhu.[4]
The school has strong links to the Anglican church; the Anglican Bishop of Auckland and the Dean of Auckland are permanent members of the school's board of governors. The college is a member of the Round Square group. King's celebrated its 125-year anniversary in 2021, while the 40 year anniversary of girls attending King's was celebrated in 2020.[5]
As a New Zealand private school, King's receives around $2000 per student from the government and charges parents of students tuition fees to cover costs.[8]
At a May 2017 Education Review Office (ERO) review, King's College had 1004 students including 50 international students. The school's gender composition was 81% male and 19% female. At the same review King's students identified as 63% New Zealand European (Pākehā), 11% Chinese, 10% Māori (including 2% Cook Islands Māori), 3% Indian, 3% Samoan, and 10% other.[9]
King's College competes in the 1A Rugby Competition and has won 16 times, most recently in 2019.[10] The annual King's College v Auckland Grammar School rugby game is one of the oldest rivalries in New Zealand schoolboy rugby. The King's 1st XI Cricket team won the Gillette Cup in consecutive years between 2009 and 2011, producing notable cricketers with the most recent being Tim Southee.
The school song of King's College is the Carmen Regale, the melody of which was composed by Dutchman Eduard Kremser and the lyrics were authored by I G G Strachan.[13][14] The school song is shared, among some other things, with King's SchoolinRemuera.
Three locations within King's College are included on the Heritage New Zealand List. King's College Chapel, a late Gothic style brick chapel that opened in 1925, is listed as a category 1 historic place.[15] King's College Main Block, and the statue dedicated to former principal Charles Thomas Major are both category 2 historic places.[16][17]
Sir Keith Park, GCB, KBE, MC & Bar, DFC, RAF – New Zealand soldier, World War I flying ace and World War II senior Royal Air Force commander, the key military figure in the Battle of Britain
Geoffrey Sim, QSO, (1911–2002), Member of Parliament representing the National Party[28]
King's College first applied for arms in 1963 and was granted by the College of Arms in 1966. The Letters patent, however, were apparently forgotten about and not received from the College of Arms until 1980.[36][37]
Crest
On a Wreath Or Gules and Azure a Conical Cap per pale Gules and Azure turned up Ermine encircled by an Ancient Crown Or and ensigned by a cross formy fitchy Argent tied about the foot and pendent to the front a Cord twisted Gules and Or and to the back Azure and Or the tassels Or
Escutcheon
Per pale Gules and Azure between two Chevronels Or three Estoiles each of eight points alternatively wavy and straight Argent all between three Towers each issuing from an Ancient Crown Or
