The village of Otipua was once called Beaconsfield and modelled on the village of the same name in England. The British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, was knighted Lord Beaconsfield in 1874, the same year Pareora West, the first school on the site was opened. The English primrose was worn by Lord Beaconsfield, in his lapel every day in Westminster. The same flowers grow naturally in the Oak woods near Otipua, and are thus featured in our school’s logo. In 1997 when the schools of Southburn and Otipua West combined, they chose the name of Beaconsfield for the new school.
Beaconsfield School was officially opened in October 1997, following a voluntary E.D.I. between Southburn School and Otipua Pareora West and more recently Maungati. In 2005 Salisbury School and Beaconsfield School merged on the Beaconsfield site. The Beaconsfield name has been retained. The merger brought together the two communities to form a vibrant new school. Both schools amalgamated onto the present Beaconsfield site and an extensive upgrading of existing services and buildings was implemented and completed in 2007.
The schools amenities comprise:
- 5 modern well appointed classrooms (6th classroom from 2011);
- A well resourced library and resource room;
- A multi-purpose hall used for assemblies, gymnastics, class activites, as a music room, as well as a place for community activities;
- An updated administration and staffroom;
- All rooms and offices networked for ICT;
- A covered verandah area serves as a lunch area, as well as a courtyard in the senior campus.
The school is sited amidst large well established grounds including a modern adventure playground, swimming pool, sealed tennis courts and adjacent sealed play area.
The school is proud of its history and traditions and is moving forward confidently into the twenty-first century. The local community is very friendly and supportive. The community has a traditionally strong involvement with the school, and there is always support for school events and working bees.
