Papakura Normal School is a coeducational state primary school of

Papakura Papakura is a suburb of South Auckland, in northern New Zealand. It is located on the shores of the Pahurehure Inlet, approximately south of the Auckland CBD, Auckland City Centre. It is under the authority of the Auckland Council. The ar ...

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

. The school is located approximately 30 kilometres south of the Auckland City Centre, situated on the suburban boundary of Takanini and

. The school educates children from years 0 to 8 (5-year-old to 13-year-old students). Papakura Normal School opened in 1953 as ''Papakura North School'' situated on the boundary of

Papakura Military Camp Papakura Military Camp is a New Zealand Army military camp located in the Auckland suburb of Papakura North, in northern New Zealand. It is the home of the New Zealand Special Air Service. Geography The camp was established on the outskirts ...

. During 1958, the school's name ''North'' changed to ''Normal'', The word ''Normal'' represents the word ''normale'' from the French language which means ''teaching school''. At that time a ''models'' block was set up and operated as an independent "school within a school". This was to provide opportunities for trainee teachers to experience teaching in a small rural environment. The models block was closed in 2008 and Papakura Normal School went from a small rural school, to what is now known as a large, popular urban school. A new classroom block and administration area were built in 2007 next to the Walters Road entrance. An extensive upgrade to the school's buildings began in 2008 with the senior and models blocks being the first to be improved. The Junior block is due for upgrading in 2010. The school draws from a large range of socio-economic backgrounds, with 54% of the school's pupils being of

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

descent in July 2009. The school doesn't just have adult leaders it has school leaders and head boy/girl which is picked from year 8's picked by both students and teachers count. Papakura Normal has head students to guide the younger generation at their school and to create a bright road for both their learning and their hauora. The school's former Principal, Judy Morgan, retired in May 2017. Derek Linington was appointed tumuaki/principal in May 2017.

References

Papakura Local Board Area Educational institutions established in 1953 Primary schools in Auckland Intermediate schools in New Zealand 1953 establishments in New Zealand {{NewZealand-school-stub