Westlake Boys High School
Forrest Hill Road, Takapuna · Auckland — North
Composite score
Strong
Top 25% in NZ
Rank #370 of scored NZ schools
In summary
Westlake Boys High School received a regular ERO review in May 2019 with a composite score of 86. The school demonstrated excellent senior qualification outcomes sustained over three years, with Māori and Pacific students achieving very high retention and success rates through effective learning acceleration strategies. ERO identified strong governance and leadership partnerships, responsive curriculum practices, and effective teaching and learning as key strengths.
Best suited for
Students aged 13-18 in Takapuna looking for a state-funded setting with a strong recent ERO trajectory.
Is Westlake Boys High School a good school?
Westlake Boys High School scores 80/100 on the SchoolsNearMe composite — a weighted average of 5 axes (academic, outcomes, retention, wellbeing, trajectory). Top 25% in NZ nationally. ERO trajectory is improving across recent review cycles. The full breakdown is below; every input links to its source.
Strengths from the latest ERO report
- Stewardship, with experienced, capable governors and leaders working together in an effective partnership
- Responsive, forward-thinking curriculum review and implementation of change
- Effective teaching and learning practices
Summary derived from ERO reports + audited financials + MoE records. Every claim links to its source — see data transparency at the bottom of this page.
Score breakdown
6 axes, each scored 0–100 on a national absolute scale. As at 2025.
L1 96% · L2 94% · UE 84% · near band median (n=66) · why? ▼ hide
Uni 58% · Te Pūkenga 2% · Industry 12% · top quartile of band (n=64) · why? ▼ hide
92% to Y13 · below band median (n=66) · why? ▼ hide
standdowns 41.0/1k · suspensions 3.0/1k · exclusions 1.5/1k · bottom 10% of band (n=536) · why? ▼ hide
+17.6% roll over 5yr (2020→2025) · top quartile of band (n=534) · why? ▼ hide
86/100 from ERO review 2019-05 · top 10% of band (n=539) · why? ▼ hide
⚠ Insufficient EQI-band peers (n<10) to compute per-axis percentile context. The score above is absolute; treat it as a single-school read rather than a peer comparison.
Real ERO composite (from the latest review): 86/100.
Latest ERO review
2019-05-30 · Steve Tanner, Northern Region
- Students achieving excellent outcomes in all senior school qualifications with sustained high levels over three years
- Māori and Pacific students achieving very high retention rates and success levels, with effective strategies accelerating learning in Years 9-10
- School well governed by experienced trustees working strategically with senior leaders in strong partnership
- High quality teaching practices evident with high expectations and effective assessment practices across the school
- Effective coordination of learning support for students with additional needs, making accelerated progress in NCEA
"Students are achieving excellent outcomes in all senior school qualifications. Longitudinal tracking shows that high levels of achievement have been sustained over time and that students' achievement is accelerated as they progress through school."
Composite score across reviews
2 ERO reviews on file, 2014–2019. Click a point to read that review.
Trajectory across review cycles
Year-over-year change per dimension based on consecutive ERO reviews.
Governance evolved from being 'well led' with a 'positive and effective working relationship' between trustees and headmaster (2014) to being characterized by 'stewardship' with 'experienced, capable governors and leaders working together in an effective partnership' (2019), with enhanced emphasis on robust scrutiny of information and strategic resource direction.
2014-06 → 2019-05 diff source
Both reports rate leadership as effective and the school as well placed, but the emphasis shifted. The 2014 report focused on the headmaster's individual modeling of care and concern, while the 2019 report emphasizes collaborative stewardship between experienced trustees and senior leaders working in partnership, suggesting a move toward more distributed, governance-focused leadership.
2014-06 → 2019-05 diff source
Both reports highlight strong achievement for Māori and Pacific students in senior years (11-13), but the 2019 report extends focus to Years 9-10, acknowledging "some disparity in achievement for Māori and Pacific students in Years 9 to 10" while implementing "effective strategies to accelerate their learning." The 2014 report emphasizes resource commitment and successful outcomes in senior years without addressing junior secondary equity gaps.
2014-06 → 2019-05 diff source
Māori student achievement improved across the school between 2014 and 2019. The 2014 report noted achievement was "above national levels" in Years 11-13 but identified a gap in Years 9-10 monitoring. By 2019, the school had successfully extended high achievement to Years 9-10, with "very high retention rates and success levels" and evidence that "most Māori students achieve very well in NCEA Levels 1 to 3 and University Entrance."
2014-06 → 2019-05 diff source
Achievement outcomes improved slightly from 2014 to 2019, with the score increasing from 88 to 90. The 2019 report emphasizes sustained high achievement over three years and accelerated progress across all year levels, whereas the 2014 report focused on increased NCEA endorsements and University Entrance success. Both reports highlight strong performance, but the later report demonstrates sustained excellence with evidence of longitudinal tracking.
2014-06 → 2019-05 diff source
Audited financials
Year ended 2025 · Audit opinion: qualified
Total revenue
$38.23M
Surplus / (deficit)
+$1309k
Net assets / equity
$17.66M
NCEA achievement
School leavers with NCEA at each level. National average is ~85% (Level 1).
NCEA Level 1 · 2024
96.3%
500 of 519 leavers
-1.4pt vs prior year
NCEA Level 2 · 2024
93.8%
487 of 519 leavers
-0.5pt vs prior year
University Entrance · 2024
84.0%
436 of 519 leavers
+1.2pt vs prior year
Data: Ministry of Education / Education Counts, CC-BY-4.0
Stay-on rate
Percentage of students who stay at school until at least their 17th birthday — the standard NZ proxy for Year-9-to-Year-13 retention.
92.3%
2024 cohort · 519 students
+0.2pt vs 2023
Discipline (age-standardised, per 1,000 students)
Stand-down = sent home temporarily. Suspension = formal investigation. Exclusion = removed from school. National averages shown for comparison.
Stand-downs · 2024
41.0
166 this year · NZ avg ~37
Suspensions · 2024
3.0
15 this year · NZ avg ~5
Exclusions · 2024
1.5
6 this year · NZ avg ~1.5
Vocational Pathway Awards
School leavers achieving Vocational Pathway Awards by industry sector (2024).
- Service Industries 52
- Creative Industries 25
- Manufacturing and Technology 9
- Construction and Infrastructure 2
Government funding
Crown funding only (school operations + teacher salaries + property). Excludes locally-raised funds, international fees and trading income — those are in the audited financial report above.
Total Crown funding · 2022
$19.63M
Per-student funding · 2022
$7,114
2018
$14.5M
2019
$15.4M
2020
$20.8M
2021
$18.1M
2022
$19.6M
Roll by year level
July 2025 roll return.
- Year 09 549
- Year 10 548
- Year 11 609
- Year 12 550
- Year 13+ 515
Roll by ethnicity
Share of total roll. Students who identify with multiple ethnicities are counted once.
- European/Pākehā 53.5%
- Asian 42.8%
- Māori 8.9%
- Other / MELAA 7.0%
- Pacific 6.4%
- International 6.0%
Location
Forrest Hill Road, Takapuna. Nearby schools marked in grey.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap, © CARTO
Schools nearby
Within 15km, sorted by distance. Add any to compare with Westlake Boys High School.
Forrest Hill School
Contributing · 0.4km · 490 roll
76
-4 vs this
Westlake Girls' High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · 0.6km · 2,319 roll
83
+3 vs this
Carmel College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · 0.7km · 1,066 roll
88
+8 vs this
Milford School (Auckland)
Contributing · 1.1km · 604 roll
75
-5 vs this
Takapuna Normal Intermediate
Intermediate · 1.2km · 727 roll
86
+6 vs this
Wairau Valley Special School
Specialist School · 1.4km · 275 roll
92
+12 vs this
Frequently asked
Is Westlake Boys High School a good school?
Westlake Boys High School scores 80/100 on the SchoolsNearMe composite — a weighted average of 5 axes (academic, outcomes, retention, wellbeing, trajectory). Top 25% in NZ nationally. ERO trajectory is improving across recent review cycles. The full breakdown is below; every input links to its source.
What does the latest ERO review say?
ERO's 2019-05 review identified 5 key findings. Students achieving excellent outcomes in all senior school qualifications with sustained high levels over three years
How do I enrol my child at Westlake Boys High School?
Contact the school directly on 09-4108667, email office@westlake.school.nz, or visit www.westlake.school.nz. For state schools, check your home address against the school's enrolment zone — some schools are in-zone-only.
What are the fees?
Westlake Boys High School is a state school. There is no tuition fee for domestic students; voluntary donations may be requested.
What is the roll size?
Westlake Boys High School has 2,760 students, with an EQI of 399 (lower socio-economic need). It is a boys school-only school.
When was the school last reviewed by ERO?
The Education Review Office last reviewed Westlake Boys High School in 2019-05, signed by Steve Tanner. 2 ERO reports are on file in our archive.
Data transparency
Every fact on this page links to its source. We never publish a claim without provenance — read our methodology for the full rules.
Sourced from
- ero.govt.nz
- westlake.ibcdn.nz
- schoolsdata.co.nz
- crimestats.co.nz