Lynfield College

History

Lynfield College opened its doors for the first time in 1958. Originally planned to be called Blockhouse Bay High School, it was renamed Lynfield by parents and teachers associated with the school. The name Lynfield was taken from the poultry farm run by Sir Alfre Bankart, that was formerly opposite the school's main entrance.

Gilletta Road in Lynfield was named after Bankheart's wife's maiden name. Another owner of the property was Mr. Irvine. He diversified from farming poultry to founding the giant baking and pastry firm Irvines Bakery.

The 26 acre on which the school now stands has seen a variety of activities – gum-digging, dairy farming, pig and poultry farming. In 1900 Messes Cooper and Mr Edwards began commercial strawberry growing. In 1911, Mr Cooper married and divided the land, keeping the half that bordered Boundary Road and Mr Edwards the other half which exited onto White Swan Road. In the 1950s, owners of the land sold portions to make way for Auckland's 20th Secondary School (to be possibly named Roskill South High School).There is a plough on the school's crest, to symbolise the use of the land it is located on as previously being a strawberry field.

Enrolment

As of , Lynfield College has a roll of students, of which (%) identify as Māori.

As of , the school has an Equity Index of , placing it amongst schools whose students have socioeconomic barriers to achievement (roughly equivalent to deciles 8 and 9 under the former socio-economic decile system).

Principals

• Des Thurston 1958–1972
• Ian Hayter 1972–1984
• Jim Sinclair 1985–2002
• Steve Bovaird 2002–2017
• Cath Knell 2017–present

Notable alumni

Main article: People educated at Lynfield College

• Daniel Bedingfield – singer
• Natasha Bedingfield – singer
• Trent Bray – swimmer
• Dean Booth – paralympic swimmer
• Rita Fatialofa-Paloto – netball and softball player
• Beatrice Faumuina – athlete
• Warwick Henderson – art gallerist, author
• Sam Kaleta – rugby union player
• Tyla Nathan-Wong – rugby league player
• Ralph Norris – businessman
• Henry Perenara – rugby league player and referee
• Lisa Reihana – artist
• Maddi Wesche – athlete
• Helen Winkelmann – current chief justice
• Chris Zoricich – footballer
• Dylan Schmidt – olympic trampolinist
• Maddi Wesche - shotputter

Notes

References

1. "Decile Change 2014 to 2015 for State & State Integrated Schools". Ministry of Education.
2. "Lynfield College 50th Reunion". Waitakere City Council.
3. "Principal's Message".
4. {{citeq. Q116775081
5. (1984). "Roskill An illustrated history of New Zealand's largest borough.". Mount Roskill Borough Council.
6. (1984). "Roskill An illustrated history of New Zealand's largest borough.". Mount Roskill Borough Council.
7. "School Equity Index Bands and Groups".
8. "July 2021".