1987: (Year 28)

  • The roll for 1987 is 1056.
  • For the first time ion approx 75 years, New Plymouth does not have a multi-school board. In August all 3 high schools established separate independent boards.
  • In February, TOPEC (Taranaki Outdoor Pursuits & Educational Centre) that Mr. Phil Gayton(P.E.staff) had spent 4 years establishing was opened with 30 Spotswood College students taking the very first 5-day course.
  • In late-February, the Principal Mr. E.E. Thomas is stood down and then resigns on 6th May. The deputy-Principal Mr. Barry Finch served as acting Principal and was subsequently appointed as the 3rd Principal of the College.   
  • 27th March: Mr. Gayton completes a summit climb of Mt.Egmont with 14 senior students & 4 adults.
  • Spotswood sells "Four Leaf Clover Stickers" for the Multiple Sclerosis Society as a fund-raiser.
  • Jennifer Smart, Michael Sharp, Mark Dines and Collette Wilson all attend a Spirit of Adventure course.
  • 40 students take part in the annual OPC trip to Turangi
  • Tragedy strikes Spotswood when a one-year Rotary exchange student-Monica Backman from Sweden was killed in a car accident on Monday 30th October.
  • The inaugural Sports Awards function was held in the assembly hall on Wednesday 23rd September with Sally Hale taking out the supreme award- the Sportsperson of the Year for 1987.
  • The First XV Rugby team played games against Tamaki College(Auckland) and 2 visiting overseas teams from Canberra(Australia) and Vancover(Canada).
  • Sports teams: Boys' & Girls' Basketball; 1 Girls' & 4 Boys' Cricket;1 Boys' & 2 Girls' Hockey; 14 Netball; 4 Rugby; Boys' & Girls' Volleyball.
  • Summer sports exchange to Freyberg for Cricket and Tennis teams.
  • The 1st XV Rugby team host a team from Lord Byng Secondary School in Vancover, Canada.
  • Physical Education teacher Mr. Phil Gayton is awarded a New Plymouth City Council "Citizen's Award" for outstanding contributions to the community.
  • The most significant event of the year was the retirement of Miss Janet Grant who had been the senior mistress for 21 years. Miss Grant was a person of such outstanding characteristics of dedication and high ideals. Many generations of pupils owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude.