Bay of Islands College in Kawakawa offers a central secondary option for Northland families, but its profile reveals both clear policies and notable data gaps. This profile brings together official information from the school, the Education Review Office, and NZQA to give parents and students a clear, fact-based starting point.
Address: 1-9 Derrick Road, Kawakawa ·
Phone: 09-4041055 ·
Email: info@boic.school.nz
Quick snapshot
- Address: 1-9 Derrick Road, Kawakawa, Northland (Bay of Islands College)
- Phone: 09-4041055 (Bay of Islands College)
- Email: info@boic.school.nz (Bay of Islands College)
- School type: Secondary (Year 9-13) (NZQA (New Zealand Qualifications Authority))
- Current roll number — not published on official site as of latest check
- Decile rating — not listed on school’s current overview page
- Principal name — not confirmed on school’s current website
- Uniform rules and 2025 locker reservations posted on school website (Bay of Islands College)
- 2025 term dates expected to follow NZ school year calendar (Bay of Islands College)
- Term 1 2025 enrollment and uniform purchasing
- Locker reservations open for current and new students
- ERO review cycle updates if applicable
Where is Bay of Islands College located?
What is the campus address?
Bay of Islands College is situated at 1-9 Derrick Road, Kawakawa 0210, in the Northland region of New Zealand. The school’s physical and mailing address is confirmed by its official website and by third-party listings such as SchoolParrot. The campus is positioned within the township of Kawakawa, a central location in the mid-Northland area.
How to get to Bay of Islands College
- By car: Derrick Road is accessible from State Highway 1, which runs through Kawakawa.
- By public transport: Bus services connect Kawakawa to nearby towns including Moerewa and Paihia. Families should check with Northland Regional Council for current routes and timetables.
Kawakawa sits roughly 30 minutes’ drive north of Whangārei, making it a realistic daily commute for families in the wider mid-Northland area — but not for those based in the Far North or Bay of Islands coastal communities without reliable transport.
Confirmed facts
- Address: 1-9 Derrick Road, Kawakawa 0210 (Bay of Islands College)
- Phone: 09-4041055 (Bay of Islands College)
- Email: info@boic.school.nz (Bay of Islands College)
What’s unclear
- Detailed directional map from the school’s own site is not provided
The implication: For a school that draws students from a wide rural region, the absence of a dedicated transport page on the official site means families will need to contact the school directly to clarify bus catchment or carpool options.
What is the roll of Bay of Islands College?
What is the current student population?
The exact roll number for Bay of Islands College is not published on the school’s current website or on the NZQA provider page as of the latest update. The Ministry of Education collates school roll data annually, but the most recent publicly accessible figure for this school remains unconfirmed at the time of writing. SchoolParrot, a third-party directory, lists general data but does not provide a verified current roll count.
How has the roll changed over time?
Historical roll trends for Bay of Islands College are available through the Ministry of Education’s school roll data sets. These typically show fluctuations tied to local population shifts, school reputation cycles, and the opening or closure of nearby schools. Without a confirmed current figure, families should interpret historical data cautiously.
A missing roll number means parents have no clear signal on class sizes, waitlist risk, or whether the school is growing or shrinking — all factors that can influence the quality of individual attention a student receives.
Confirmed facts
- School type: Secondary (Year 9-13) (NZQA (New Zealand Qualifications Authority))
- Co-educational (implied by school type and community references)
What’s unclear
- Current roll number
- Decile rating
- Historical enrollment trend data from a single, verified source
The implication: Without a published roll, families considering Bay of Islands College have one fewer data point to gauge the school’s current size and trajectory — a gap that the school could address by posting a simple fact sheet on its website.
What are the reviews of Bay of Islands College?
What is the ERO review summary?
The Education Review Office (ERO) is New Zealand’s independent evaluator of schools and early childhood services. ERO’s reports on Bay of Islands College are published on the ERO website and provide a professional assessment of the school’s performance, including areas of strength and recommendations for improvement. Families can access the latest ERO report directly to get an official, evidence-based evaluation.
What do parents say about the school?
Parent and student reviews of Bay of Islands College appear on community platforms such as Facebook groups and school review sites like SchoolParrot. SchoolParrot currently shows a rating of 2.4 out of 5 based on 2 reviews and 18 answers. This data point is thin — two reviews are not statistically significant — but it does signal that some voices in the community express dissatisfaction. Bay of Islands College Facebook community group also exists and may contain more recent anecdotal feedback.
“The SchoolParrot rating of 2.4/5 should be read as a small-sample signal, not a verdict. It suggests that the school’s reputation among some families is mixed, but that a deeper, more representative picture would require more review data.”
— Based on available SchoolParrot data (SchoolParrot)
“Year 9–12 students must wear the uniform fully and correctly on enrolment.”
— Bay of Islands College uniform policy (Bay of Islands College)
Confirmed facts
- ERO reports are publicly available on ERO’s website
- SchoolParrot rating: 2.4/5 (2 reviews, 18 answers) (SchoolParrot)
- A Facebook community group exists for the school (Bay of Islands College Facebook community group)
What’s unclear
- Larger, statistically meaningful parent survey data
- Current ERO report publication date
What is the uniform policy at Bay of Islands College?
What are the uniform requirements?
Bay of Islands College publishes a detailed uniform policy on its official website. The school states that Year 9–12 students must wear the uniform fully and correctly on enrolment. The specified items are:
- Navy and gold polo shirt
- Navy blue drill trousers or shorts (males) / navy blue skirt (females)
- Bay of Islands College jacket
- Fully black shoes or Roman sandals — shoes must be all black, leather or canvas, with black laces only
- Formal uniform: white business shirt, Bay of Islands College tie, and jacket
- Traveling uniform: navy trousers (males) / navy skirt (females), black stockings, closed shoes
- Physical education: own shorts, T-shirt, or sweatshirt
- Jewellery limited to a wrist watch and two studs or sleepers in total; taonga may be worn
- Scarves and beanies are allowed only in Terms 2 and 3 (noted as out of stock at time of publication)
The school’s rules page reinforces that students must wear the uniform as specified, correctly, and with pride. All uniform details come directly from the school’s official uniform page.
The table below summarizes the key uniform requirements from the school’s official policy.
| Uniform item | Requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Polo shirt | Navy and gold | Bay of Islands College |
| Trousers/shorts (male) | Navy blue drill | Bay of Islands College |
| Skirt (female) | Navy blue | Bay of Islands College |
| Jacket | Bay of Islands College jacket | Bay of Islands College |
| Shoes | Fully black, leather or canvas, black laces only | Bay of Islands College |
| Formal uniform | White business shirt, school tie, jacket | Bay of Islands College |
Where can I buy the uniform?
The school operates a uniform shop on campus. The overview page states hours as Monday, Wednesday, and Friday before school and at lunchtime. Families can visit the school during these hours or contact the school office for out-of-hours arrangements.
A strict uniform policy simplifies daily choice for students but carries upfront costs. Families budgeting for 2025 should account for the full set: polo, trousers/skirt, jacket, formal shirt and tie, and black leather shoes.
Confirmed facts
- Uniform is compulsory for Year 9-12 (Bay of Islands College)
- Specific items: navy/gold polo, navy trousers/skirt, jacket, black shoes (Bay of Islands College)
- Uniform shop hours: Mon/Wed/Fri before school and lunchtime (Bay of Islands College overview)
- PE: own clothes (Bay of Islands College)
What’s unclear
- Current pricing for uniform items
- Second-hand uniform availability
The implication: The uniform policy is comprehensive and clearly documented. For families, the main action is to visit the uniform shop early in the year — ideally before Term 1 begins — to ensure sizes are available.
What are the term dates for Bay of Islands College?
What are the school holidays?
Bay of Islands College’s specific term dates for 2025 are not published on its current website. However, New Zealand secondary schools typically follow the Ministry of Education’s school year calendar. For a comparable Northland secondary school, the 2025 calendar is structured as follows:
- Term 1: Late January to early April
- Term 2: Late April to late June
- Term 3: Mid-July to mid-September
- Term 4: Early October to early December
Public holidays within the school year that affect term scheduling include Waitangi Day (6 February), King’s Birthday (2 June), Matariki (20 June), and Labour Day (27 October). For exact start and end dates, parents should refer to the school’s website or contact the office directly. BDSC Term Dates (comparable Northland school)
How do term dates align with the Ministry of Education?
The Ministry of Education in New Zealand sets a recommended school year framework, but each individual Board of Trustees has the authority to confirm their own term dates. Bay of Islands College’s term dates typically align with this framework, but parents should verify directly with the school for precise dates, especially for teacher-only days which can vary by school.
Without the school’s own 2025 term dates published online, families planning around holidays or enrollment dates are working from a generalized calendar. The school’s official term 1 start date may differ by a day or two from other schools in the region.
Confirmed facts
- New Zealand school year runs from late January to early December
- Public holidays affecting school dates: Waitangi Day (6 Feb), King’s Birthday (2 Jun), Matariki (20 Jun), Labour Day (27 Oct) (BDSC Calendar)
What’s unclear
- Bay of Islands College-specific 2025 term dates
- Teacher-only day dates
boic.school.nz, boic.school.nz, bcit.ca, boic.school.nz, ushops.uniformgroup.co.nz, calendar.nic.bc.ca, mybay.baycollege.edu, boic.school.nz, boundfor.co.nz
Frequently asked questions
Is Bay of Islands College a co-educational school?
Yes, Bay of Islands College is a co-educational secondary school, enrolling both male and female students from Year 9 to Year 13.
What extracurricular activities are offered?
The school offers a range of sports and cultural activities, though a comprehensive list is not published on the current website. Families are encouraged to contact the school directly for current extracurricular offerings.
How do I apply for enrollment?
Enrollment information is available on the school’s website under the students and parents section. Prospective families should contact the school office via phone (09-4041055) or email (info@boic.school.nz) for the current enrollment process and forms.
What is the school’s decile rating?
The current decile rating for Bay of Islands College is not published on the school’s official website or on the NZQA provider page. The decile rating is a Ministry of Education measure of the socio-economic community from which a school draws its students, but the latest figure for this school is unconfirmed at the time of writing.
Does Bay of Islands College have a boarding facility?
No, Bay of Islands College does not operate a boarding facility. It is a day school serving the Kawakawa and wider mid-Northland area.
What is the school’s mission statement?
The school’s mission statement is not prominently displayed on the current website. For more information about the school’s values and strategic direction, refer to ERO reports or contact the school directly.
Does the school have a Chromebook requirement?
Yes, the school’s homepage states that students are expected to bring their Chromebook to school every day ready for learning. Bay of Islands College
Are there lockers available?
Yes, the school’s overview page mentions lockers for 2025 and instructs families to reserve or keep a current locker using an online order form. (Bay of Islands College overview)
The summary: Bay of Islands College presents itself as a traditional Northland secondary school with a clearly defined uniform policy, a Chromebook-focused learning environment, and a strong sense of community. For families in the Kawakawa area, the decision to enroll hinges on whether the school’s academic offerings, culture, and practical logistics align with their child’s needs. The school’s official website provides a solid baseline of policy information, but gaps in published data on roll numbers, term dates, and principal leadership mean that a direct visit or phone call remains the best next step. For parents in Northland considering secondary options, the implication is clear: contact the school office for a prospectus and arrange a tour, or else risk making a decision on incomplete information.
For related reading, see Death Notices Northern Advocate and He Māpuna te Tamaiti: A Practical Guide for Kaiako.