Simon Coe, the Rector of Southland Boys’ High school, has announced his resignation. He will be taking up the position of Headmaster at Napier Boys’ High School in the Hawke's Bay.
Southland Boys’ High School has benefitted from Mr Coe’s forward-thinking leadership for almost 8 years, with the school growing both in reputation and accomplishments, on a local and national scale.
Mr Coe’s goal on joining Southland Boys’ High School in 2017 was to create a school with mana, a strong kotahitanga, collective success, and a student centric environment.
With a focus on academic excellence, Southland Boys’ High School achieved higher NCEA results in 2023 than the national average, and higher than all boys in Southland, thanks to the establishment of the Southland Boys’ High School Club in 2018.
Celebrating academic excellence at the highest level, the Club requires students to achieve all NCEA credits at Excellence. Entry to the Club is no small undertaking, and Mr Coe is proud of all those who achieve it.
The sporting successes continued on a national and international stage, with cycling, running, and rugby making headlines – including the First XV’s national championship win in 2023 – and a number of talented students representing New Zealand at a national level.
Under Mr Coe’s management, the school received continuous improvements, with new heating systems installed in the hostel and school, upgrades to classroom blocks, a hockey turf, and a new heritage approved roof.
School Board co-chair Chami Abeysinghe says Mr Coe leaves the school in a strong position. ‘Mr Coe leaves a great legacy. Successful, well-rounded young men graduate from Southland Boys’ High School with the skills they need to succeed in life. We thank Mr Coe for his commitment and leadership during his tenure as the school’s Rector and wish him all the best with his new role at Napier Boys’ High School.’
Mr Coe is proud of his achievements at Southland Boys’ High School. ‘I am hugely proud of Southland Boys’ High School. The school has a strong sense of identity and rightly stands tall within the Southland community - where its students wear the school crest with pride.’
‘The rewards of being involved in a busy and active boys’ school are immense’, says Mr Coe. ‘Seeing the boys succeed where they thought they couldn’t, pushing their own boundaries and taking advantage of opportunities presented to them is something I am very proud of. I wish the school the best in the future, and know that its strong heart will carry it onto bigger and better things.'
