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.

[3] Parents in the eastern and northern suburbs of Christchurch had wanted single-sex education for their sons.

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.

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.