Adams
House

Thank you for taking the time to explore our website and learn about Adams House, the Christchurch Boys’ High School hostel, a national leader in boarding in New Zealand. Whether you are a first time visitor or a longtime member of our community, we hope you will find the information within this site interesting and useful.

Adams House was named after Mr J.C Adams who was the Chairman of the Board when the Hostel was founded in 1915-16. A complete redevelopment of our new buildings began in 2000 and were officially opened in October 2001.

Adams House primarily caters for rural families in the South Island. With a capacity for 135 full time boarders Adams House provides a very significant contribution to the history, reputation and daily life of Christchurch Boys’ High School.

Our philosophy on boarding is simple, we are the students "Home Away from Home", we strive to provide the best possible boarding and life experience for our students. The staff ratio is high. One Manager and ten housemasters live on site. This includes three families with children, providing Adams House with a family atmosphere. Three staff are always on duty and during the day this increases to four when our Day Matron comes on duty.  Every effort is made to ensure all our boarding students are treated equally, with compassion, respect, appropriate discipline and the care a parent would treat their own son.

We take great pride in our facilities. The living areas are modern, warm, clean, comfortable and perfectly maintained. Our food is outstanding and the envy of many other similar establishments. All year groups have their own common room. High speed wireless internet ensures all students have modern computer access, filtered via our webmarshall control system. Our 1.3ha grounds are immaculate and provide a park like setting. Recreation facilities include a heated swimming pool, tennis courts, cricket nets, weights gymnasium, basketball court and two playing fields.

The Education Review Office reports in the past years have been glowing. One indicating that “Adams House sets the standard that others will be judged upon”.

We are understandably very proud of our facility, our history and the culture we have developed at Adams House. A tour of our website will give you some indication of what we provide. A personal visit however, will show case Adams House in a manner that will impress. Please feel free to contact me if you wish to view what I believe is the best boarding school in our country. Altiora Peto.

Kind Regards

Richard Taylor

Adams House Manager