Some Western Bay of Plenty principals are glowing, while others are dismayed at the latest figures showing the secondary schools with the best NCEA results in 2010.

Bethlehem College was one of the best performing schools in the region for 2010.

With 92 per cent, the school came first equal with Aquinas College for the highest participation percentage of Year 11 students who passed NCEA level 1.

Of the eight secondary schools in the Western Bay, Bethlehem College topped the list for the highest Year 12 NCEA level 2 participation percentage pass rate, with 94 per cent.

With 81 per cent, the college were second equal with Tauranga Girls' College for the percentage of participating Year 13 students who passed NCEA level 3. Aquinas College came first with 88 per cent.

Bethlehem College also topped the list for University Entrance results, with 76 per cent of its participating Year 13 students gaining UE.

'Students work hard,” says Bethlehem College deputy principal and head of curriculum Stuart Manners.

'We have a number of good students here, there's a good structure to support students so students are able to work hard.

'There's good discipline and work in the classroom.”

For Year 11 NCEA level 1 results, Tauranga Boys' College was ranked last of Western Bay secondary schools.

Of the Year 11 students at the school who sat NCEA level 1 last year, 62 per cent passed.

This is below the 75 per cent Year 11 national average in 2010, but up on the school's 2009 Year 11 NCEA level 1 results when it had a 60 per cent pass rate.

'There are a number of things that come into that, like decile ranking. Boys traditionally do less well than girls,” says Tauranga Boys' College principal Robert Mangan.

'We are pleased with our level two and level three results and scholarships results.”

Tauranga Boys' College came third for University Entrance results, with 72 per cent of participating students passing, up from 52 per cent passing the year before.

About 74 per cent of participating Year 13 students at the college passed NCEA level 3 last year and 78 per cent of Year 12 students passed level 2.

Aquinas College principal Ray Scott says his students find NCEA endorsements a big motivation.

If a student gains 50 credits at excellence, their NCEA is endorsed with excellence.

Likewise, if a student gains 50 credits at Merit – or Merit and Excellence – their NCEA is endorsed with merit.

'It provides something else for those capable students to aim for,” says Ray.

'It's better to have that ability to recognise students in that way.”

Table:

How Western Bay of Plenty schools compare for Year 11 NCEA level 1 pass rates for 2010.

1. Bethlehem College, Aquinas College: 92 per cent.
2. Katikati College: 85 per cent.
3. Mount Maunganui College: 79 per cent.
4. Te Puke High School, Tauranga Girls' College: 78 per cent.
5. Otumoetai College: 73 per cent.
6. Tauranga Boys' College: 62 per cent.