Compare International Schools in Hamilton, New zealand

St Paul's Collegiate School is located in the middle of Hamilton City, at 77 Hukanui Road, Hamilton 3210, New Zealand. It sits on 19 hectares of land with pristine grounds and gardens. It is close to Westfield Shopping Centre, Porritt Athletic Stadium, Hamilton's CBD and the University of Waikato. Transport options are available for students.

Junior Academic Programme (Years 9–10) and Senior Academic Programme (Years 11–13) form the two main strands of St Paul's. Tihoi Venture School provides a dedicated outdoor education experience for Year 10 students.

Private, independent day and boarding secondary school.

The Learning Enhancement Unit provides learning support with teacher aides, reader-writers and learning support staff, and offers academic mentoring, learning support and goal-setting; small class sizes support individual learning.

Anglican Christian

Five daily bus routes operate for students living outside the Hamilton area: Cambridge, Tamahere, Te Kowhai, Morrinsville and Te Awamutu. The cost varies by route, pickup location and year. Bookings are via the Application for Daily Transport Form or by contacting Facilities on +64 7 957 8890, or transport@stpauls.school.nz. PDF bus routes are provided at the bottom of this page.

The school has three boys' boarding houses—Williams, Sargood and Clark—and a girls' boarding house, Harington House. It also operates Tihoi Venture School, with all Year 10 boys spending 18 weeks boarding at Tihoi near Taupo. A limited number of Year 9 girls will be offered boarding from 2026, with Years 9–13 girls in residence by 2027. The dining hall serves meals; breakfast is available for girls in Harington House via kitchen facilities, while lunch and dinner are provided in the dining hall for boarders.

St Paul's uses a formal uniform with distinct summer, winter and formal components, plus designated sports and PE attire. Summer: boys wear a grey shirt and grey shorts with a black belt and black McKinlay sandals; girls wear a grey blouse with regulation black culottes; optional black jersey. Winter: boys wear a grey shirt, long socks worn with garters, black lace-up shoes and a black jersey or jacket; girls wear a white long-sleeve shirt, grey skirt, stockings, black lace-up shoes and a black jersey or jacket. Formal: white shirt and tie with blazer; trousers for boys and a grey skirt with pantyhose for girls. PE: official house shirt or equivalent with black shorts; sports uniforms are required for sport; closed footwear is required in certain areas. Hats, jackets and grooming rules are also specified for appearance and safety.

Boarders have meals in the Dining Hall; attendance is compulsory for boarding students unless excused by a Housemaster, and day students attend lunch. Breakfast and snacks for girls are prepared in kitchen facilities at Harington House, while lunch and dinner are provided in the dining hall for all boarders. A weekly dining menu is published for planning.

The school operates a house system with eight houses: Clark House (boarding), Williams House (boarding), Sargood House (boarding), Fitchett House (day), Hall House (day), Hamilton House (day), School House (day) and Harington House (female students). Housemasters provide pastoral care and coordinate house activities and competitions throughout the year.

St Paul's is governed by the Waikato Anglican College Trust (formerly the Waikato Anglican Boys' College Trust). The Bishop of the Waikato Diocese is the official visitor, and the Trust is independent of the Diocese, endowed to fund and operate the school. The Trust was founded in 1957 and began admitting girls in the mid-1980s, with full co-education in the senior years from 2010; current Trustees include the Chair and other named members.

Junior Academic Programme (Years 9-10) follows a core of English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, Health, Religious Studies and Te Reo, with technology and arts options. Year 9 and Year 10 are taught in single-sex classrooms for some subjects to tailor content. All Year 9 students take either a foreign language or a literacy and numeracy course, and they also choose two Master Class subjects for half a year. At Year 10, students follow a core of English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, Health and Religion and three additional options, coordinated with Tihoi. The St Paul's Diploma is a Year 11 programme aligned to the New Zealand Curriculum, with six subjects, four assessments per subject and a total up to 192 points; graduating with Honours, Distinction or a standard Diploma recognises high achievement. In Years 12-13, the senior curriculum offers English and four or five additional subjects, with options for NCEA Level 2 or Cambridge International qualifications in Mathematics and English in Year 12, and typically five subjects at NCEA Level 3 in Year 13, with Scholarship Examinations available. The proposed changes to NZQA's NCEA will begin in 2029 for Year 12, while St Paul's continues to challenge and support students through these pathways.

The school maintains small class sizes to support individualized teaching and strong teacher–student relationships.

St Paul's consistently achieves academic results that are significantly higher than national pass rates. In 2024, 34% of St Paul's Diploma students achieved the Diploma, 25% achieved Distinction and 35% achieved Honours. For NCEA, 2024 pass rates were 95% for Level 2, 95% for Level 3, with University Entrance at 82% (national pass rates 73%, 68% and 48% respectively). Cambridge International Examinations recorded a 2024 pass rate of 95% for AS (Year 12). New Zealand Scholarship results show 2023: 33 scholarships with 5 Outstanding; 2022: 43 scholarships with 6 Outstanding; 2021: 28 scholarships with 3 Outstanding.

University Entrance is a respected pathway for admission to New Zealand universities, with 2024 University Entrance pass rate at 82% (national 48%). Cambridge International qualifications are recognised by leading universities worldwide and provide a progression route for students pursuing study beyond high school. Cambridge is described as the world's most popular international qualification and is recognised by leading universities and employers worldwide.

A junior scholarship programme exists for Year 9 students showing exceptional academic promise. The Year 11 Diploma offers a tailored pathway with six subjects and four assessments, and in Years 12-13 there are Cambridge and/or NCEA options alongside a Scholarship Examinations pathway. An Academic Scholarship Group supports Year 13 and exceptional Year 12 students with targeted preparation, including subject-specific tuition and exam technique; the Learning Enhancement Unit also supports priority learners.

St Paul's runs a Hauora programme every Thursday to build resilience and wellbeing. Year 9 includes peer support activities and an introduction to the counselling team. Year 10 covers health and wellbeing, life skills, and Maatauranga Maaori. Year 11 focuses on critical thinking, taha wairua, careers, and health and wellbeing. Year 12 provides health and wellbeing lessons plus academic mentoring, with planned programmes such as Loves Me Not and road safety education. Year 13 concentrates on careers, academic mentoring, and the transition from secondary school to employment or further education.

Learning Enhancement Unit supports learners of all abilities. The Director of Priority Learners oversees teacher aides, curriculum management, and individual education plans with parents, agencies, and staff. Small class sizes and a team of teacher aides provide learning support. A range of programmes includes academic mentoring, learning and support, and goal setting. A quiet space is available for study and reflection.

International students receive lessons in English. ESOL classes are available daily. An Education Learning Plan IELP tailored to their needs is provided, along with OCESOL. IELTS, TOEFL and SAT support is offered, and peer support helps students settle. A buddy system supports international students in their first days.

The Hive includes a Health Clinic and Counselling Services. It is a health and wellbeing centre located at the heart of the school. Counselling Services support students mental and emotional well-being.

St Paul's has a Child Protection Policy dated 14 June 2023 that sets safeguarding practices for school activities. The school is signatory to The Education Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners Code of Practice developed by the New Zealand Ministry of Education.

1. Apply: St Paul's is a Hamilton boarding and day high school for boys and girls, Years 9-13. 2027 and 2028 enrolment applications are open; applying two years prior to the start date is recommended. There is no fee to complete an online application. Applications are accepted while places remain available. 2. Family meeting and video: If offered a family meeting (interview), families are invited to submit a video introduction and a school report prior to the enrolment interview. Interviews begin in the first two terms of the year preceding the start year and last about 30 minutes. Due to high demand, some applicants may not receive an interview; boarding and affiliated families are interviewed first. 3. Offer of a place and acceptance: If a family receives an offer of a place, they have two weeks to accept by paying the enrolment fee and returning a signed Admissions Agreement. Affiliation with the school: Priority for interviews is given to affiliated applicants (siblings of current or past students, direct descendants of Collegians, direct descendants of past staff, or direct descendants of governance members). If affiliated, include the information in the enrolment form. Fees: The annual fees schedule can be found here.

Scholarships include Academic, Distance boarding, Sports, Financial hardship bursary, and Cultural. Scholarship awards are generally between $2,000 and $10,000 per annum, and priority is given to families with genuine financial need. The Scholarship Application must be submitted in hard copy by the end of Term Two to the Scholarship Committee of St Paul's Collegiate School. The application requires: a handwritten personal statement; most recent end-of-year school report; a one-page CV (if required); one character reference from a current teacher, principal or family friend. A financial declaration is required for all scholarships, including totals for assets and liabilities and total worth; a more detailed financial statement form may be downloaded from the website for financial hardship bursaries. Applicants indicate the scholarship category (Academic, Distance boarding, Sports, Financial hardship bursary, Cultural).