Shirley Boys' High School (known as SBHS) is a single sex state (public) secondary school in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was originally situated on a 6 hectare site in the suburb of Shirley, but in April 2019 moved, along with Avonside Girls' High School, further east to the former QEII Park, 8.6 kilometres from the city centre.
Brief history
Parents in the eastern and northern suburbs of Christchurch had wanted single-sex education for their sons. In 1957, this finally became available when the school opened under its first Headmaster, Charles Gallagher.
Established on a swampy paddock formerly used for grazing horses to the west of North Parade, the School grew rapidly. Within a few years it became a self-confessed and proud rival to Christchurch Boys' High School as well as to St. Andrew's and St Bede's College.
A detailed satirical portrait of the school as it was in the late 1960s can be found in The Shining City, a novel by former student Stevan Eldred-Grigg
On the Easter weekend (April) of 2007, Shirley Boys' High School celebrated its 50th Jubilee. Commemorative events included an Old Boys' XV playing the current 2nd XV and the 1st XV playing in historic uniform against St. Andrew's College; as well as a golf tournament, formal black-tie dinner, staff luncheon and 'meet-and-greet evening'.
Controversies
In 2022 a Shirley Boys High student was punched 30 times in an attack that took place on the school grounds. Police have confirmed no one has been arrested. More than 3000 instances of sexual harassment have been reported at Shirley Boys' and Avonside Girls' high schools in the first two terms of 2022. A survey collected the answers of approximately 800 students across both schools. Over 150 students reported at least one or two instances of sexual harassment at the school since the start of 2022.
2011 earthquake
During the magnitude 6.3 quake on 22 February the school suffered extensive damage and had to close. At least two classroom blocks were expected to be demolished, and all of the concrete areas of the school, including the new tennis courts, were badly damaged.
The students did not attend school for almost a month afterwards, before the decision was made to shift its pupils to Papanui High School – with Papanui High School's students changing to attend classes from 8 am until 1 pm, while the Shirley Boys' High School students entered the school at 1.15 pm and finished at 5.45 pm. After about 6 months of this arrangement pupils were able to return to the re-opened school in early September 2011.
Move to new site
Education Minister Hekia Parata announced on 16 October 2013 that the school would move, and be co-located with Avonside Girls' High School at a site in east Christchurch. On 12 February 2015 the site was announced to be the former QEII Park site.
The move to the new site was completed in April 2019.
Houses
Notable alumni
Nathan Astle – Former New Zealand cricketer
Tom Christie (rugby union) – Current Crusader
Ryan Crotty – Former All Black and Canterbury Crusaders rugby player
Stevan Eldred-Grigg – New Zealand novelist and historian
Aaron Gilmore – Former Member of Parliament
Craig Green – Former All Black wing
Chris Jack – Former All Black lock
Dave Jaggar – computer scientist and James Clerk Maxwell Medal winner
Brodie McAlister – Current Crusader
Hugh McCutcheon – Current United States men's national volleyball team head coach Craig McMillan – Former New Zealand cricketer Richard Petrie – Former New Zealand cricketer Setaimata Sa – Current Sydney Roosters Hull F.C. rugby league player Steve Scott – Former All Black halfback Bradley Shaw – Current Black Stick Hayden Shaw – Former Black Stick Duncan Webb – lawyer and politician