A school of endless opportunities where the staff know their students and how they learn.
Our school is large enough to offer a broad curriculum but small enough to allow for very positive interactions between students, as well as betweeen students and staff. Our staff know their students well. You will find a diverse range of programs and resources available at our school.
Welcome to Banora Point High School (BPHS), a new and dynamic secondary school where students are encouraged to 'reach for the stars'. Everyone has the opportunity to succeed through the variety of experiences on offer.
BPHS was founded in 2004, as the fifth public high school in the Tweed Valley. It has grown from the original cohort of 171 students to offer a comprehensive education from Year 7 to Year 12. The school has 670 students in 2010.
In 2008 the Aurora Learning Community was formed. This continuum of education from Kindergarten to Year 12 includes Terranora and Centaur Public Schools and Banora Point High School. Together, we are working to build cooperation and shared programs between the three schools and their individual school communities. Our goal is to ensure the best possible outcomes for the students in our care.
In 2009 Banora Point High School joined the Tweed Valley Sport competition. This competition is a multi sport competition during Term 2 each year. It is a great opportunity for students to compete against six other high schools across the Tweed Valley. Our Talented Athlete Program recognises excellent student achievement in sports in school and the community, and offers leadership development opportunities to those selected for the program.
Our school motto, ‘Reach for the stars', summarises our aim to ensure all our students have goals to which they aspire, the opportunity to grow and develop and work towards their goals, and the support and encouragement they need to achieve them.
We offer a broad range of experiences within the academic curriculum, in sport and cultural activities, in community involvement, and in student leadership. We provide both gifted and talented and support programs to cater for all student abilities. Our students are supported by many welfare programs from Year 7 to Year 12. They are encouraged to take every opportunity to try something new and extend themselves while developing confidence and skills for life beyond school.
School history
In the late 1990's the community and the Department of Education saw the need for an additional high school on the Tweed to support the rapidly growing Banora Point and Terranora sector of the Tweed. The Department of Education already owned land opposite Centaur Public School. In 1994 when Centaur PS was established there was discussion about whether a K-12 complex should be built but this was not proceeded with.
A community committee was formed in 1999 to examine the options for secondary education in the Tweed. The committee identified a number of options. One was to establish a single 7-12 high school at Banora Point to complement the existing Tweed River and Kingscliff High Schools. Another was to create a senior college for 11-12 and have three junior high schools. The option eventually favoured was a 7-10 high school at Banora Point and Pottsville to feed to 7-12 high schools and Tweed River and Kingscliff. In 2002 the Minister for Education, Mr John Watkins announced the building of a 7-10 high school at Banora Point.
Construction of Stage 1 which consisted of an administration area, science labs, special education unit, staff facilities, library, general classroom blocks, a Material Science block and Canteen commenced in March 2003. John Holland Construction was the builder. Stage 1 was completed and handed over on 20 April, 2004. Stage 2 commenced in March 2005. This consisted of a hall, movement studio, music facilities, fitness area, visual arts block and a material science block. Stage 2 was handed over by the builders, Richard Crookes Construction on 20 January 2006.
The foundation principal, Dr Alan Deece, commenced duty on 3 November 2003, and oversaw the final stages of planning.
The first day for the new school was on Tuesday 27 January 2004, with twenty teachers. On Thursday 29 January 2004, 171 year 7 students commenced at the school.
The first term was difficult, working in hot demountable classrooms and sharing specialist spaces with Tweed River High School staff and students. Ms Ros Davis, Principal of Tweed River HS and her staff made us feel welcome and their help in getting the school started is appreciated. However during the term we watched our new buildings move to completion and at one stage we were taken on a guided tour of our new school.
On Wednesday 27 April 2004, we moved into our new school. In what was a dry year, our welcome to the new school was wet. The local member for Tweed, Mr Neville Newell, MP and a large number of parents were on hand as we moved in procession into the new school. It didn't rain again until November 2004 when we received 132mm of rain in 50 minutes, flooding much of Banora Point around the school.
The community felt that Banora Point had to become a 7-12 high school or risk becoming a small marginalized school. Following an intense campaign led by the P&C Association the Minister for Education, Carmel Tebbutt announced in November 2005 that Banora Point High School would be a full 7-12 high school.
