Students arriving at Dunstan High School for the start of the school year may not recognise the place, with the recent arrival of six new purpose-built classrooms.

The Ministry of Education announced in July last year that DHS qualified for roll growth, and then five months later half of the classrooms arrived - just in time for Christmas.

The school role is sitting at 611 for 2026 - the highest it has been since the mid-1990s, and is expected to continue to grow, principal Andrew King said.

“We did have a choice as to what we needed to future proof the school for role growth,” he said.

Staff decided that they could use some more space for speciality rooms such as metal work and food technology, and so the existing classrooms are also being repurposed in the development.

The remaining three new modular classrooms arrived on January 23 from Christchurch, with Southbase carrying out the site work ready for them to be open in early March.

Andrew said a new visual arts suite will feature two art rooms and a photography room - the other classrooms will be used for design and visual communications and general teaching.

The school has also partnered with Otago Polytechnic to bring its Level 2 Hospitality course to Dunstan High School, after its Central campus in Cromwell closed last year.

DHS has been involved with the polytech through the Otago Secondary Tertiary College programme, where Year 12 and 13 students have the option of studying part-time in Cromwell, whilst also completing NCEA Level 2 and 3.

New redevelopments underway at Dunstan High School. Image: The Central App

In another exciting new initiative, DHS has partnered with Breen Construction as part of a trial to train BCITO students in building mini homes, using a site next to the high school hostel.

‘Trade Base’ will offer students Level 3 credits for those interested in a construction career.

“It will give them the site-specific skills that they need,” Andrew said.

The hospitality and building training initiatives will create a new hub at Dunstan High School, that will be opened up to other high school students as well.

Breen will be holding a promotional day on February 5 to launch its new Trade Base, in conjunction with the Highlanders. 

The last time Dunstan High School had any major upgrades was back in 2009 with its $2.3 million gymnasium.

Andrew relocated from Dunedin to Alexandra with his family as the new school principal 18 months ago, after previously holding the role of Deputy Rector at Otago Boys’ High School.

“It has been awesome and a great change. You always take a bit of a leap of faith when you move.”