Super Ranking For Auckland
MEDIA RELEASE - 29 APRIL 2009
Super ranking for Auckland
Auckland is one of the best cities in the world to live in, according to Mercer's 2009 Worldwide Quality of Living Survey. In the international consultancy and investment service provider's survey of 215 cities, Auckland was ranked fourth-equal with Vancouver, rising from fifth last year. Tourism Auckland chief executive, Graeme Osborne, says this is an outstanding result. “A ranking of fourth in the world is brilliant and will help to further boost our international reputation as a world-class city and a great place to live, work or visit,” he says. The winning city was the Austrian capital of Vienna, with Swiss cities Zurich and Geneva ranked second and third. The big Australian cities came in behind Auckland. Sydney was ranked 10, Melbourne 18, Perth 21, Adelaide 30 and Brisbane 34. Mercer determines rankings on 39 criteria, including political, social, economic and environmental factors, plus health, education, transport and other public services. The data was collected between September and November last year.
Academic Results for 2009
Please view the attached graphs which are evidence of the high level of student achievement at Rangitoto College for 2009.
Here is the graph which shows the percentage of Rangitoto College students who gained level 3 qualifications compared to national results and decile 10 results.
Here is the graph which shows the percentage of Rangitoto College students who gained level 2 qualifications compared to national results and decile 10 results.
Here is the graph which shows the percentage of Rangitoto College students who gained level 1 qualifications compared to national results and decile 10 results.
Overview
Selection
Selection will be made by the Director of International Students. Students from as wide a range of countries as possible will be recruited so that many cultures are represented. Offers are based on an assessment of the extent to which Rangitoto College can meet the needs of the prospective student. The College reserves the right to cancel an Offer of Place and refund fees paid hereunder in the event it ascertains any adverse comment from the previous schooling of the applicant or any of the applicant’s recommendation letters. The College reserves the right to cancel an Offer of Place and refund fees hereunder in the event the level of English and/or prior learning in the subject area is not verified in testing at enrolment. Failure to disclose relevant information or the provision of false information may result in termination of enrolment.
Testing
The College may test International Students on arrival at the College to help determine placement. The College may also require testing in a student’s own home country before selection. The College will provide its own testing material.
Placement
The College will issue an Offer of Place to a selected student but the level of study offered is an indicator only. The College has the right to place the student in appropriate subjects and year levels; selection and placement are conditional upon the College being able to meet the needs of the student. Students entering the College as International Students must have the prior learning necessary and the intellectual and emotional capacity to cope with study in New Zealand in English at the level enrolled in. Quality applicants are sought whose proficiencies and career intentions are matched by the opportunities Rangitoto College offers. The College may ask a student to undertake intensive language tuition at another institution for a period of time if it is ascertained the student cannot cope at Rangitoto College at an appropriate English level. Generally students are placed with their age group level.
Enrolment Conditions
Upon enrolment at the College, the student will abide by the same conditions as regards behaviour and absence as apply to domestic students Enrolment as an International Student at the College shall be terminated:-
a) At the end of the school year in which the student turns 19 years of age, in accordance with New Zealand law; or
b) At any time by agreement between the parties; or
c) By Rangitoto College if the student fails to pay fees in advance, or fails to abide by the same conditions as for domestic students, or fails to abide by the conditions of the International Student Tuition Agreement; or
d) If the student ceases to hold, or ceases to be eligible to hold, a valid student visa issued by the New Zealand Immigration Service.
Full details of visa and permit requirements, advice on rights to employment in New Zealand while studying, and reporting requirements are available through the New Zealand Immigration Service, and can be viewed on their website at www.immigration.govt.nz
Accommodation
As per the Code of Practice and Guidelines (revised September 2003) the International Students Office of the College upon or before enrolment will determine and verify which category of accommodation the student will live in regardless of age i.e.
- Homestay
- Designated caregiver
- Parent
No International student of Rangitoto College can live independently, in a boarding establishment or in temporary accommodation.
Police vetting will be required of all caregivers and all residents of a household aged 18 or over.
The College will provide guidelines to the caregivers and the students and outline the divisions of responsibility between the College and the caregiver.
The parents and the student agree that the student shall remain in accommodation arrangements either organised by the College for the term of this agreement, or are approved by the College according to The Code of Practice guidelines on accommodation. Any changes must be negotiated with the Accommodation Co-ordinator beforehand. Failure to comply with this requirement may lead to a cancellation of the student permit. All caregivers who are not New Zealand citizens must provide copies of their passports and valid visas.
Homestay
All homestays are carefully selected and monitored to ensure that appropriate standards are maintained.
From 2010, homestay payment is NZD$220 per week payable in advance to Rangitoto College. The College will pay the homestay caregiver each month, account for all money received and payments made from homestay money.
The homestay fees invoiced may be an estimate cost only. Exact costs will be determined when final departure date is confirmed. If students change homestay, a fee of $150.00 may be charged. Rangitoto College can only guarantee accommodation for visa purposes for the number of weeks homestay fees have been paid for.
On written request Rangitoto College will refund any balance left over at the end of the student’s placement. If over NZD$1000 the refund will be made directly to the parents in the country of origin of the student. If under NZD$1000 the payment will be made in cash to the student on their last day prior to their departure from Rangitoto College.
One week’s notice must be given by either party (homestay or student) prior to a student being placed in another homestay.
Designated Caregiver (DCG)
The parents of the student must fill out and personally sign the International Student Application and include all details of the DCG (page 3 of International Student Application) when submitting the application. The College will decide if the caregiver will be verified as a Designated Caregiver and will ask for a police vet, further supporting information and/or evidence of nature of the close relationship or friendship.
The home of the proposed DCG will be visited and assessed the same as for a homestay caregiver. The home will be visited subsequently to substantiate and verify the DCG’s living situation.
At no time can a DCG leave the student unsupervised overnight or for any length of time without firstly informing the College and seeking approval for a temporary caregiver to take their place. This will probably necessitate a new DCG being appointed for the period, as per all DCG regulations.
The DCG arrangement cannot change until Rangitoto College is informed, and agrees to the change. The parents take full responsibility and accept the decisions made by their DCG about the day-to-day requirements of their child and understand that Rangitoto College will make every endeavour to provide care and welfare of their child while studying in their school. Should you have any concerns regarding the welfare of your child Rangitoto College may refer your child to the relevant welfare authorities, or any other appropriate agency in New Zealand.
Parent
Students living with parents must still be monitored by the College. At no time can a parent leave the student unsupervised overnight or for any length of time without first informing the College and seeking approval for a temporary adult caregiver to take their place. If students are living with a parent, then the parent has full responsibility for the pastoral care of the student outside tuition hours, and may be called up to the school at short notice on school matters. If a parent leaves a student unsupervised in New Zealand that student will lose their place at the College and New Zealand Immigration will be informed. Parents must follow all the policies of the College at all times. Birth Certificates and copies of passports and visas are required to verify parent status.
Travel and Holidays
Parents are welcome to visit their child while studying in New Zealand. The International Office can assist in any documentation required.
International students are encouraged to travel within New Zealand in holiday time:
- with their host families
- with school-organised groups; and
- on trips and activities organised by their agents or by
approved student travel companies in the school holidays
- with their parents
We do not recommend a return to the home country in the short holiday breaks.
International students are not permitted to leave school before the end of term to travel home and must ensure they are back in NZ in time for the start of the new term. All holiday/travel arrangements must be approved by the International Administrator. All Code regulations must be met. Forms are available from the International Office.
Homestay payment will be $10 per night while students are absent for more than 5 days, as long as two weeks notice has been given.
International students are not allowed to travel independently while they are studying at Rangitoto College. This is a condition of enrolment.
Upon arrival at Auckland Airport, students will be met by one of our staff and taken to their homestay family. When students depart from Auckland Airport they will need to make their own travel arrangements with their homestay family or via a taxi (at their own cost).
International students are not allowed to drive a car whilst at Rangitoto College. If students are caught driving, they will be sent back to their home country immediately. Travel and medical insurance does not cover international students driving.
Permission must be given by parents, although the International Administrator or Director of International will make the final decision, and all Code of Practice requirements must be met.
Work
Rangitoto College will give written permission for part-time work for year 12 and 13 students only. A Variation of Conditions to a student permit will need to be applied for. Go to www.immigration.govt.nz to view the detailed requirements of the New Zealand Immigration Service.
Students will need to show they are making and maintaining excellent academic progress, have excellent attendance and have made satisfactory transport arrangements to and from work. Rangitoto College requires written confirmation from both birth parents and agent prior to applying.
Rangitoto staff may visit the work-place.
A breach of any of these guidelines will place a student’s visa and/or study permit at risk and/or will lead to disciplinary action by the College.
Communication, Complaints and Concerns
Students and parents may experience a range of problems and difficulties. This is normal. Any problem should firstly be taken to the International Deans or to Guidance staff. Serious problems should be taken to the Director, Mrs Robbie Pickford (email robbie@rangiworld.co.nz).
The College adheres to the New Zealand Code of Practice. An appeal authority operates through the Ministry of Education and students are advised of this at orientation (email: info.ieaa@minedu.govt.nz). A “where to complain to” chart is displayed in prominent places in the College, and distributed at orientation (see attached chart). All students are given a copy of their Tuition Agreement at orientation with a copy of this booklet. The College welcomes direct communication from parents via phone, email, letter or visits. The College will communicate with parents via letters and newsletters on a regular basis. The website will also contain up to date information.
Academic Progress and Reporting
The College reports fully on academic progress once a year, with progress reports issued every term. The College expects all International Students to make reasonable academic progress and try their best. All students who are at Rangitoto College from February to December (1 full academic year) will be required to sit NCEA exams at the end of the year. The NCEA exams are an extra cost to the student of approx $400.00.