Coley Street School

(06) 363 8117 51 Coley Street, Foxton, 4814
Coley Street School
Caring Striving Thinking Proud

Personal History

Peter came to Coley Street School with  31 years in education.

He was born in Foxton and with the family shifted to Palmerston North as a 7 year old.

Peter was schooled at Foxton Primary, Winchester Primary, Normal Intermediate and Freyberg High School before entering the School of Physical Education at Otago University.

After graduating from Otago he spent 1 year in the graduate teacher training programme at Massey University training as a primary teacher.

After 1 year as a primary teacher Peter spent the next 19 years as a secondary physical educator being head of department at Rangitikei and Manawatu College.

In 2000 Peter won a scholarship for fulltime study to finish a masters degree in business studies.

He was immediately appointed to a position at Massey University as secondary health and physical education adviser.

Peter spent the next 3 years in a joint position as adviser / lecturer in this faculty.

In 2004 Peter took up a position as fulltime coach of the Manawatu Turbos Rugby Team, on leave from Massey University.

He returned to Massey in 2005 as primary health and physical education adviser, a position he held until February 2010 when the position was disestablished. Peter took redundancy and Peter's first job application was Coley Street School.

Peter's appointment to principal of Coley Street came in April 2010 and he has currently completed his 11th year in the position.

Peter has had a heavy involvement in sport throughout his life.

He has represented New Zealand in rugby, softball and athletics and won a world masters title in surf lifesaving.

Peter spent 3 years as player / coach in Ireland for the strong Mullingar Club  taking over from current Irish National Coach Joseph Smith.

In 2003 Peter was one of the first national rugby coach's to be awarded a Prime Ministers Scholarship for coaching and leadership. 

He has  been head coach of 4 national rugby provinces, coached New Zealand Under 19 and 21 rugby trial teams, Head coach of the New Zealand Heartland Team tour to USA in 2008 and was a New Zealand Under 20 World Cup Rugby selector and position coach from 2009 - 11

Peter has coached local clubs Foxton and Shannon and spent the last two years travelling to Palmerston North to coach Old Boys Marist Senior A team. 

Peter's vision for Coley Street children is to enable them to be confident life long learners who can stand tall and have the skills and knowledge to achieve locally, regionally, nationally or internationally.

To achieve this, Coley Street School needs to continually push the boundaries by offering it's students a wide range of academic, sporting and cultural activities that shift students out of their comfort zone.

Even more paramount is the health and well being of our children and whanau.