[3] Tender for the construction of the school, initially accommodating 600 pupils, opened on 1 June 1954 and closed on 6 July.

[5] Terry McCombs, a former Member of the New Zealand House of Representatives who had served as Minister of Education from 1947 to 1949, was appointed as the school's foundation headmaster in August 1955.

[10][11] On the day, the school had closed for instruction for the day at 12:00 pm due to the Post Primary Teachers' Association, the main secondary school teachers' trade union, holding a paid union meeting that afternoon, meaning very few students and staff were on site when the quake struck at 12:51 pm.

Suburbs and towns within the zone include Beckenham, Cashmere, Huntsbury, Murray Aynsley, Saint Martins, Somerfield, Spreydon, Sydenham, and Westmorland; parts of Addington and Hoon Hay; Hillsborough, Opawa and Waltham west of State Highway 76; and Governors Bay, Diamond Harbour, and Port Levy.

[16] Students residing outside the zone are accepted as roll places allow per the enrolment scheme order of preference and secret ballot.

[19][20] In Year 10, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education and Health remain compulsory subjects.

[20] In Years 11 to 13, students complete the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA), the main secondary school qualification in New Zealand.