The Western Bay is well-provided with schools, with nearly 40 in the Tauranga City area alone. They include 8 secondary and four intermediate schools. Another 25 schools, mostly primary schools, are scattered through towns between Waihi Beach in the north, and Maketu to the south.
Tertiary institutions include the large Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, and the University of Waikato at Tauranga. The Polytechnic has a spacious main campus at Windermere, a short drive from the central city, providing over 100 courses in 25 industry areas, ranging from boat building to broadcasting. The University of Waikato at Tauranga now offers over 150 papers. Its Language Institute caters for around 130 international students. The polytech and university are moving closer together as time goes on.
There are also a number of private education providers in the region, offering both general and industry-specific training programmes. The Bethlehem Institute is a non-denominational Christian institution delivering educational programmes and degrees in teacher education and counselling. The region is also home to a number of adventure education and dive training schools such as Adventure Education. It also has a college of homeopathy, and a Rudolf Steiner school.
Further Information:
Seventeen local places of learning have joined together in an organisation called Education Tauranga: www.educationtauranga.co.nz
Wikipedia NZ lists Bay of Plenty schools with web address, rolls, and other information: www.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand
Ministry of Education: www.minedu.govt.nz
Education Review Office: http://www.ero.govt.nz
Tertiary Institutions
Bay of Plenty Polytechnic 
Windermere Drive, Windermere, 544 0920 www.boppoly.ac.nz
This polytech is the biggest tertiary education provider in the Western Bay. It has two local campuses in Tauranga. The main campus is located on the southern side of the city, set in 20 hectares of trees and gardens, at Windermere. It houses state-of-the-art training workshops and restaurants, salons, music recording suites as well as an aquatic centre and gym.
The second campus, the Bongard Centre, is handy to downtown Tauranga in Cameron Road. The centre is home to the School of Business Studies, computing and information technology, and tourism and travel programmes.
The polytech runs an information centre to help with programmes information, applications and enrolments, campus tours and directions (Tel 544 0920).
University of Waikato at Tauranga 
142 Durham Street, Tauranga, tel 577 0620, uwt.waikato.ac.nz
The University of Waikato based in Hamilton has its own campus in Tauranga offering papers towards a number of under-graduate degrees. The campus also offers graduate study. Classes are delivered by Waikato lecturing staff – either Tauranga based or commuting from the Hamilton campus and there is a low lecturer to student ratio.
The campus also offers many non-credit courses through its Continuing Education programme. UWT has a Language Institute teaching overseas students ‘general English’, and also runs group and study tour programmes.
Bethlehem Institute of Education
Elder Lane, Bethlehem, tel 576 2171, www.bethlehem.ac.nz
This non-denominational Christian education provider was set up in the 90’s. Its mission is to be a Christian tertiary institution of education, scholarship and research. It provides training for primary and secondary school, and early childhood teachers. BIT also offers courses in Christian education and caters for international students.
Secondary Schools
Aquinas College
183 Pyes Pa Rd, Tauranga, tel 543-2400, www.aquinas.school.nz
State-integrated, co-educational Catholic college, for years 7-13. Also caters for international students who receive specialised ESOL tuition. The College is set on a 10.7 hectare site at Pyes Pa. It has modern facilities including a gym complex with indoor courts, stadium seating, a dance studio, and fitness centre.
Bethlehem College
24 Elder Lane, Bethlehem, tel 576-6769, www.beth.school.nz
Non-denominational, state integrated, co-educational Christian school, for years 1-13. Established in 1988, facilities include a large gym and hall complex and a science and lab block. BC runs Bethlehem International School on the campus, which aims to prepare students for mainstream high school studies in New Zealand.
Katikati College
Beach Road, tel 549-0434, www.katikaticollege.school.nz
Co-educational combined intermediate and secondary school for years 7-13, located in the town of Katikati, 30 kms north of Tauranga.
Mt Maunganui College
Maunganui Road, tel 575-3096, www.mmc.school.nz
Co-educational secondary school for years 9-13. Hosts around 50 international students from around the world and runs ESOL classes.
Otumoetai College
Windsor Road, Otumoetai, tel 576-2316, www.otumoetaicollege.co.nz
Co-educational secondary school for years 9-13, established in 1965. Accepts around 65 fee paying international students. Located in the Tauranga suburb of Bellevue. Facilities include two large gyms, including squash courts, climbing wall, weight lifting and dance rooms, and roofed on-site community swimming pool.
Tauranga Boys’ College
Cameron Road, Tauranga, tel 578 4029, www.tbc.school.nz
State secondary school for boys only, years 9-13, minutes from downtown Tauranga. Facilities include a modern gym and sports hall complex, an ESOL centre, extensive sports fields, and all-weather hockey and tennis facilities. TCC has around 30 international students from different countries.
Tauranga Girls’ College
Cameron Road, Tauranga, tel 578 8114, www.tgc.school.nz
State secondary school for girls only, for years 9-13. Caters for international students and adult education.
Te Puke High School
Tui St, Te Puke, 573-9769, www.tepuke.school.nz
Co-educational state secondary school, for years 9-13.
Intermediate Schools
Mt Maunganui
Links Avenue, Mt Maunganui, 575-5512, www.mtint.school.nz
Co-educational state school for years 7-8
Otumoetai Intermediate School
Charles Street, Bellevue, 576-5105, www.otuinter.school.nz
Co-educational state school, for years 7-8.
Tauranga Intermediate School
18th Avenue, Tauranga, tel 578-440, www.tauranga-int.school.nz
New Zealand’s biggest co-educational state intermediate school with over 1100 students. Also takes international students.
Te Puke Intermediate School
Cameron Rd, Te Puke 573-9352, www.tepuke-intermediate.school.nz
State intermediate school for years 7-8. Located in the township of Te Puke, the Western Bay of Plenty’s ‘kiwifruit capital.’
Primary Schools
The Tauranga City area has nearly 30 primary schools, with another 25 scattered through the Western Bay district’s towns and settlements. For a full list, refer to Wikipedia.
Other Schools
Tauranga Rudolf Steiner Kindergarten and School
R364 Welcome Bay Road, Tauranga 544- 2452, www.rudolfsteinertga.ac.nz
Established in 1988 as an independent kindergarten run by parents, educators and friends. Integrated into the state system in 2005, it caters for pre-school to 13 year olds. Located in rural surroundings in Welcome Bay.