Samuel Marsden Collegiate School

Samuel Marsden Collegiate School (Marsden) is a private Anglican school for girls from Years 1 to 13. It is located in Karori, Wellington and was established in 1878. As the only school in Wellington to offer the choice of an all-girls Years 1–13 education, Marsden is one of New Zealand’s leading private schools and a member of the Alliance of Girls Schools Australasia.

As an Anglican School, Marsden is committed to imparting the Christian values which are part of its special character. Marsden Karori has its own Chapel. Pupils of diverse religious beliefs are welcomed, tolerance of difference is encouraged and diversity celebrated. The school’s vision is to develop confident, independent learners within a warm, values-based Christian environment. The school spirit and values are captured in the four pillars of excellence, resilience, creativity and giving. Strategic planning and curriculum development are aligned to the four pillars.

Marsden implements the learning approaches, programmes and pportunities which would prepare students for an automated, global world. In Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education the teaching of transferable, ‘enterprising’ skills is explicit. Classes rarely have more than 25 students and frequently fewer than 20. This allows teachers to not only instruct but to mentor, intervene, motivate and coach, working with each child individually.

The academic record of the school speaks for itself. Not only the NCEA results of the school are amongst the best in New Zealand, students are also excel in sport, music and the performing arts. But children and families don’t choose a Marsden school just for its academic reputation or broad ranging co-curricular offerings. They choose it because, at Marsden, students are known, genuinely cared for and given individual attention by dedicated, expert staff in small classes; because the practice of Christian values, kindness and giving make it such a special place to be; because progress in all its forms is acknowledged and celebrated; and because they’re confident they’re being well prepared for life – the world of further study and work they will enter when they graduate. For Marsden, education is much more than a step up to university and a career. Our purpose is to lay the foundation for lives of meaning, accomplishment and genuine happiness.

“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” Wrote Plutarch, a couple of thousand years ago. And with such ideal, Marsden keeps commit to excellence and to the development of character: grit and grace.

Marsden girls work towards achievement in the national qualification, the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA). Year 12 students may opt for a combined NCEA/Cambridge programme in up to three subjects for an additional challenge. Scholarship is also a goal our senior students strive for.

The programmes in Marsden have been developed in line with the New Zealand Curriculum and cover the essential learning areas of the Arts, English, Health and Physical Education, Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Sciences and Technology. Core subjects are complemented by a range of challenging options and individual inquiry, research and experimentation are key to learning.

Regular classes in Positive Psychology promote student wellbeing and, in line with the Anglican character, Religious Education is a thought-provoking aspect of the timetable.

Full student participation in the William Pike Challenge (at Year 8) and the Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award (at Year 10) help build resilience, confidence and a sense of achievement in our students.

Marsden adapts the timetable for special short term programmes; examples include the senior Ethics seminars, the innovative Year 10 Imaginarium and Year 9 Creative Inquiry Symposium, where students work collaboratively with outside experts on exciting real-world projects.

Samuel Marsden School in Karori is minutes’ drive from central Wellington, the culture rich capital city of New Zealand. Marsden is set on four hectares of peaceful, park-like grounds and at its centre is the new building, Te Manawa o te Kura ——‘The Heart of the School’, opened by the New Zealand Prime Minister in 2016, which features a beautiful foyer, iCentre and Learning Studios. The school have world-class learning facilities and resources. The school features large playing fields, six tennis courts, a gymnasium, music rooms, art house, science laboratories, auditorium, chapel, cafeteria and dance studio.

Address:

Marsden Avenue, Karori, Wellington 6012, New Zealand

2 Starboard Lane, Whitby, Porirua City, New Zealand

Official website:https://www.stcuthberts.school.nz/