Amazing Futures PROSPECTUS
It’s amazing what you will achieve
St Cuthbert’s Prospectus
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Contents
04 — Principal’s welcome
07 — Head Girl’s welcome
08 — Making Girls Amazing
12 — The all-girl advantage 14 — Our values
16 — Achievements at a glance 20 — Junior School Years 0 – 6
26 — Senior School Years 7–13 32 — The Kahunui experience
36 — Years 7–13 Academic Curriculum 42 — Boarding at St Cuthbert’s 43 — Our facilities 46 — Sports
52 — The Performing Arts
55 — Additional co-curricular activities 56 — Developing well-rounded girls 58 — Old Girls’ Association 59 — Talk to us St Cuthbert’s Prospectus
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PRINCIPAL’S WE LCOME
We understand that choosing the right school for your daughter is one of the most important decisions you will make as a family. When you join St Cuthbert’s, you entrust us to help your daughter grow from child to adult.We consider that an absolute privilege. Together with you, we will prepare her for the world, socially, academically, physically and emotionally. Making Girls Amazing is our commitment to each girl and to her parents. My vision for a St Cuthbert’s education is to enable every girl to succeed and thrive – through developing her individual strengths, expanding her thinking, and building her inner confidence. Every girl in my care is a unique individual and I know that entrusting your daughter’s education to me and to my team is a considerable commitment. Are we the right fit for your daughter and your family? I invite you to come and experience St Cuthbert’s for yourself and find out. Warm regards
Justine Mahon — Principal St Cuthbert’s College
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WE LCOME FROM OUR HE AD GIRL
Tēnā koutou, It feels surreal to assume a role which has been held by girls whom I have admired since my first year in this College in 2010. However, 12 years later, I know that the example set by those previous leaders will help me tremendously to lead this school with the same empathy, gratitude and integrity so that I can continue their legacy.
As Head Girl, I urge St Cuthbert’s students to partake in new experiences, to venture beyond our comfort zones and to make strong connections with all of those around us. As important as it is to be focused on goals and ambitions, it is equally important to take the time to prioritise our own needs, to seize every moment and make good memories.
St Cuthbert’s students have shown outstanding resilience and flexibility over the past two years, so no matter what obstacle blocks our path, I know that we will deftly move past it. I encourage our students to take advantage of the time that we have together. Make sure to speak up in class, reach out to students we have not spoken to, and most importantly, treat everyone following our motto, ‘By Love Serve’. Ngā mihi,
Ishannita Chaudhuri Head Girl — 2022
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Making Girls Amazing
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At St Cuthbert’s, excellence isn’t just a grade — it’s about encouraging every girl to achieve her own personal best. Through our leadership programmes, we support all our girls to become leaders in some aspect of the school community. Whether she excels on the sports field or on the stage, academically or in another unique way, we will ensure that your daughter is able to explore her strengths and talents in a supportive and inclusive environment.
girl to find her place, both in the St Cuthbert’s community and the wider world.
Every girl who walks through the doors of St Cuthbert’s has the ability to do incredible things. Our dedicated, world-class teachers will work with your daughter to identify what makes her truly amazing, inside and outside of the classroom. By identifying your daughter’s unique talents and strengths, our teachers assist every
We have created an environment where your daughter will make lifelong friendships and be supported to reach her potential. Our values and school motto ‘By Love Serve’ underpin everything we do. With our strong pastoral care and wellbeing programmes, every girl will develop the confidence and resilience to continue her education as a Global Citizen once she hears the school’s Bews Bell ring for the final time.
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“Girls in girls’ schools have access to all leadership positions, every position on school sporting teams, every role in school drama productions and musicals, and every instrument in a school’s bands and orchestras.” The Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia — 2018.
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The all-girl advantage
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87 With over 100 years of experience in educating young women, St Cuthbert’s continues to embrace its founding heritage and traditions while ensuring that we impart skills that young women will need for tomorrow and well into the future.
Originally named the Auckland Presbyterian Ladies College, our school first opened its doors to190 young women in 1915. A change of name to St Cuthbert’s College followed shortly afterwards and, since then, the school has grown to support approximately 1,400 young women each year. While the school has experienced many changes over the years, one thing that hasn’t altered is our commitment to delivering a dynamic and well-rounded education that acknowledges and celebrates all facets of a young woman’s life. We believe all-girl schools are more relevant today than ever before, which is why we choose to remain one of the few independent, single-sex secondary schools in New Zealand. Every girl has a voice: A US-based National Coalition of Girls’ Schools’ survey found that nearly 87% of students in girls’ schools feel their voices and opinions are respected, compared to 58% of girls at co-ed schools. Our girls find their voice in a safe environment, and learn how to use it at a young age. An academic advantage: We are renowned for our girls’ exceptional academic performance, which is reflected in both our NCEA and International Baccalaureate results. Numerous studies have indicated that all-girls’ schools St Cuthbert’s Prospectus
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of students in girls’ schools feel their voices and opinions are respected, compared to 58% of girls at co-ed schools.
create environments that are more conducive to learning and enable girls to achieve greater academic success than those in a co-educational environment. Emphasis on STEAM subjects: Australian research recently revealed that girls at single-sex schools are up to 85% more likely than co-ed girls to take high-level STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) subjects (Monash University, 2017). At St Cuthbert’s, girls can pick from a wide array of STEAM subjects and explore career paths that they may not have ever considered in a co-educational environment. Through access to digital technologies, the school has a focus on ensuring that every girl develops essential skills for the future, including creativity, critical thinking, communication and collaboration. Our commitment to ensuring that girls have access to the latest in technology has been recognised by a number of industry leaders, including Apple, which awarded the school an Apple Distinguished Program award for 2017–2018. Leading by example: Through their most formative years, our girls see female leadership in action. Younger girls watch the older girls leading, senior girls see inspirational women leading. The message every day is clear: your aspirations are not limited by your gender. Put simply, the social, academic, interpersonal, and leadership skills that your daughter will acquire in an all-girls’ environment are unparalleled.
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Our values
St Cuthbert’s was founded under the benefaction of the Presbyterian Church. Today the school is non-denominational, with the Christian ethic at the heart of our community. The St Cuthbert’s school motto,‘By Love Serve’, was chosen by the first Principal, Miss Isobel Macdonald. Over 100 years later, ‘By Love Serve’ is an ethos which underpins all aspects of school life and bonds the St Cuthbert’s community.
centre of our values and is a vibrant and meaningful part of everyday school life. These values guide the way we think, act and care for each other.
Our values and broader teaching philosophy are guided by our School Compass. ‘By Love Serve’ is at the
Some hundred years on, St Cuthbert’s is committed to the vision of enabling every girl to succeed at her own pace through expanding her individual strengths, inspiring her thinking, and building her inner confidence.
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‘By Love Serve’ The basis of ‘By Love Serve’ is creating shared Christian values whilst also fostering social and personal responsibility in every girl. It is about ensuring that every person in the St Cuthbert’s community, be it students, staff, or alumnae, has a deeply ingrained sense of self-worth and respect for others and the world they live in. It is pursuing innovation whilst honouring the traditions of those who have gone before. It is cultivating a culture of excellence that is based on research and best practice and recognises hard work, commitment to the school, and success. Global Citizenship: ‘By Love, We Serve the World’ As part of our responsibility to prepare girls for their futures, an innovative and robust Global Citizenship framework is taught across every aspect of school life. St Cuthbert’s is the only school in New Zealand that has such a framework ingrained in the curriculum from Years 0–13. Based on the UNESCO Pillars of Learning, our Global Citizenship programme encourages St Cuthbert’s girls to truly understand their individual and collective role in the world. In everyday life, having a welldeveloped sense of Global Citizenship sets our girls up to negotiate issues of human rights, responsibilities, wealth distribution, environmental sustainability, diversity, and social inclusiveness. As a UNESCO Associated Schools Network Project (ASPnet) school, our Global Citizenship programme helps every girl become a life-long learner and instils the values she will need to become an active participant and a responsible citizen of the world.
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Connected Communities School Houses are a vital part of St Cuthbert’s and are designed to foster girls’ friendships, develop leadership skills, and create a sense of belonging to the wider school community. At the start of her journey with St Cuthbert’s, every girl is placed into one of eight Houses: Dunblane, Elgin, Melrose, Iona, Kelso, Lindisfarne, Durham and York. All the Houses are named after significant places or events in the life of St Cuthbert himself. The Houses structure allows for social activities and leadership opportunities across all school levels. In the Senior School, the Houses system becomes an even more integral part of a girl’s school identity as their tutor groups are divided by Houses. Students enter this group in Year 8 and leave in Year 13, building strong relationships across all the Senior School year levels. During their time at the school, every girl participates in the annual InterHouses competitions ranging from athletics to music and swimming to wearable arts. At the end of each year, the House that has accumulated the most points is awarded the coveted Black Watch Cup at the annual Senior Prize Giving. Health and Wellbeing One of the many benefits of a St Cuthbert’s education is the emphasis that the school places on developing all dimensions; that is, focusing on each girl’s academic, social, and emotional growth. The St Cuthbert’s Wellbeing Faculty includes counsellors, a registered child and adolescent psychotherapist, and mental health practitioners. In conjunction with students’ teachers, Deans, and family, the Wellbeing team take a holistic approach to providing guidance on the mental, physical, and emotional health of St Cuthbert’s students. We also offer a Mindfulness programme across all year levels, which is an evidence-based practice designed to enrich self-care, personal resilience, and optimal brain function. Page — 15
Achievements at a glance
St Cuthbert’s students have a reputation for obtaining exceptional academic results. With both National Certificates of Educational Achievement (NCEA) and International Baccalaureate (IB) qualifications on offer, no matter your daughter’s academic aspirations and interests, our approach to teaching means that our students gain the tools to become adaptable, forward-thinking, life-long learners. With these essential life skills, our students go on to pursue a wide range of tertiary studies and careers, both nationally and overseas.
Right — Some of our recent academic successes.
As an independent school we have the freedom, resources, and teaching capacity that enables us to operate as a Knowledge Rich School. This approach is a key strategic focus at St Cuthbert’s and is based on teaching in-depth and specialist subject knowledge within a clear conceptual framework.
Whilst we are extraordinarily proud of every girl who performs well in her academic pursuits, we recognise that academic results aren’t the only measure of success. In addition to ensuring that our students are as equally prepared for their exams as they are for the real world, St Cuthbert’s believes that developing happy, engaged and enthusiastic learners begins with knowing each girl individually.
Our Knowledge Rich approach introduces our students to a way of learning that will stay with them for life. New Zealand is widely regarded as one of the top countries in the world at preparing students for the future (Economic Intelligence Unit, 2019). Our academic approach is reflective of this, and with a St Cuthbert’s education, your daughter will acquire the analytical, creative, digital and entrepreneurial skills that are needed to future-proof her chosen career path.
We are committed to ensuring that every student has the academic and emotional support that she needs to achieve her best. That is why we have a dedicated Wellbeing Faculty to help girls at all levels of the school navigate the modern pressures of meeting academic demands. Additionally, we were the first school in New Zealand to develop a dedicated Personalised Learning Centre that supports a broad range of diverse learners and helps to unlock every girl’s true potential.
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98 % 99 % 97 % 95 %
Students who received University Entrance across IB and NCEA (2019)
Students who received NCEA Level 1 (2019)
Students who received NCEA Level 2 (2019)
Students who received NCEA Level 3 certificate (2019)
59 61 University Scholarships offered to St Cuthbert’s students in 2019 (9 internationally)
2019 NZQA Scholarship Awards awarded. St Cuthbert’s students awarded Top Subject Awards across NewZealand for Latin and Media Studies
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Amazing Discoveries
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WE LCOME TO THE J UNIOR SCHOOL
Your daughter’s Junior School years are some of her most formative, which is why we are dedicated to ensuring that her introduction to the school environment is a positive one. From her very first day at St Cuthbert’s, your daughter will be welcomed into a caring environment that focusses on identifying and developing her strengths so that she can approach every new concept or task in a confident manner.
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Inspiring a love of learning Young children need to feel a sense of belonging and connection, and we believe that smaller class sizes, led by a dedicated teacher, are an integral part of their feeling happy and safe. All of our students are supported by hugely experienced support staff as well as the expertise of specialist teachers from across both the Junior School and also the Senior School for areas such as languages, science and technology.
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This innovative and inspiring learning philosophy for early childhood education values every child as strong, capable, and resilient. As an independent school, we have implemented a number of highly regarded, ground-breaking, and pioneering programmes that are designed to evoke joy, curiosity, and a life-long love of learning. We carefully curate a balance between reading, handwriting and online discovery and exploration.
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Initiatives such as the STRETCH Programme, which was launched in 2015, introduces the girls to the wonders of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) from a young age.Years 0–6 girls work together in multilevelled groups to experience activities as diverse as modern dance and robotics, water colour painting and movie making, or Mathex problem solving and debating. This gives every girl the opportunity to take risks in a safe and supported environment, to learn how to work well with others and to also be confident to work alone. Other programmes, such as our Years 1–3 Foundation Fitness programme, that runs for 15 minutes at the beginning of each day develops each girl’s fine and gross motor skills, and improves our girls’ social and physical abilities. The MovinCog initiative was set up by the University of Auckland and the Centre for Brain Research. It focusses on developing the critical area of working memory, and, in 2017, our Year 5 girls were invited to take part. This initiative has now been implemented across Years 4–6 and involves physical St Cuthbert’s Prospectus
and mental agility activities throughout the week. Developing all dimensions At St Cuthbert’s Junior School, your daughter’s development happens just as much outside the classroom as inside. During her early years, our emphasis is on nurturing your daughter’s sense of self as well as her passion for exploring and learning more about the world around her. Our Junior School girls are encouraged to take up a variety of different cocurricular opportunities in sports and the performing arts. Whether she wants to try drama, music, community service, or sports, your daughter will have many opportunities to participate in the wider school life in a meaningful way. During her time in the Junior School, your daughter will also be introduced to the concept of school camp. From staying a night on the school grounds in Year 3, to spending a few nights away with her peer group in Year 6, participating in school camps will help her to create meaningful friendships while developing confidence and independence.
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After School Care Club Evergreen, our After School Care programme, is a welcoming environment where Year 0-8 girls are able to socialise and study while waiting to be picked up from school. Each afternoon, when the girls arrive at Club Evergreen, they are provided with a healthy afternoon tea, an interesting activity such as gardening or cake decorating and homework time.
Examples of when girls may like to join Club Evergreen are before or after sport, music or drama practice, or on parent interview days.
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Amazing Energy
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WE LCOME TO THE SE NIOR SCHOOL
Years 7–13 are when your daughter starts to explore in more detail both who she is and the world around her. As our Junior School girls transition from Year 6, they will experience new daily routines and learning formats. They will step up to take on new responsibilities and will be encouraged by their teachers to become more independent in their approach to learning.
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In our experience, it is absolutely essential that every girl feels connected to her peers and to the wider school environment. This is why we have created a number of initiatives to ensure that your daughter feels strongly connected to her tutor teacher, her classmates, her year group and to the wider St Cuthbert’s community. Prior to starting in Year 7, all new girls – both from the Junior School and those who are joining us from other schools – are welcomed at an Orientation Day. Every girl is assigned a buddy so that she recognises at least one familiar face on her first day of school. Additionally, our Year 8 students, who have experienced Orientation the year before, work hard right from the very beginning of the year to make sure every girl feels included and welcomed. These leadership roles enable our Year 8 students to impart their knowledge and practise their mentoring skills. We ensure that every girl is happy and well-supported, which is why we offer a home room model for our Year 7 girls. Every girl has a dedicated tutor teacher for her core subjects who sees her on a daily basis and notices what’s going on in her life. As girls move into Year 8, we recognise their different developmental needs, and they join vertical tutor groups in their Houses. These tutor groups help foster the special sisterhood culture at St Cuthbert’s and the girls work together on special projects and events. St Cuthbert’s Prospectus
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YE ARS 7–13 CONT ’D
Throughout your daughter’s senior years with us, she will master the agility to switch between projects and careers; she’ll develop strong values and understand her rights and responsibilities in the world; her social skills will help her negotiate life’s challenges and opportunities; and above all she’ll have robust strategies to deal with whatever comes her way.
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Bringing out the best in every girl The Senior School environment provides many opportunities for the girls to develop their leadership, interpersonal, and mentoring skills. As your daughter progresses through the Senior School, she will be presented with many opportunities to step up into leadership positions, as well as the opportunity to support and mentor those who will eventually follow in her footsteps.
However, we can’t ask our girls to deliver their personal best without delivering our own. Our teachers and leadership team are extremely talented and passionate about educating girls. They bring this passion and commitment into their classrooms and wider roles within the school community every day.
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Your daughter’s generation is developing as one of the most digitally connected, interactive and responsive ever known — chances are she can’t imagine a world without the Internet, Wi-Fi and mobile devices! St Cuthbert’s Prospectus
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We actively encourage our students to integrate technology into their studies in a managed and meaningful way. Digital learning environment Our students are encouraged to use the device that best suits their learning needs. As a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) school, we ensure that every girl in Years 5–13 owns a digital device so that she can stay connected to the digital world.
Dedicated careers advisors and support By the time your daughter reaches Year13, and is considering her study and career pathways, she will have already established many of the life skills needed to confidently evaluate her options. Throughout their time in the Senior School, our dedicated Careers Department helps girls evaluate their options, discover their passions and aptitudes, preferred areas of study, and career goals.
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The Kahunui life skills experience
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Kahunui — meaning ‘big hawk’ in Māori — is a unique and transformative experience that empowers our Year 10 girls by advancing their levels of social physical, emotional and intellectual fitness. Based on a 141-hectare property located in the Bay of Plenty, Kahunui is designed to teach our girls the values of team-work, resilience, interpersonal skills and communication so that they can confidently face life’s challenges. Every year 10 girls spends several weeks at our 141-hectare Bay of Plenty outdoor campus – Kahunui. St Cuthbert’s is the only girls’ school to offer a life skills experience on a separate, school-owned campus. This unique and transformative experience advances all levels of fitness – social, physical, emotional and intellectual. Run by a dedicated team of instructors, Kahunui welcomes groups of approximately 24 Year 10 students in a number of intakes across the course of the year. Groups of eight students live in and manage their own house, supported by house tutors. This involves menu planning, cooking, cleaning, laundry and budgeting. Girls push the boundaries in the outdoor surrounds trying many unique and daring activities like overnight camping, cooking over an outdoor fire, blow karting and kayaking. They also gaining a deep understanding and appreciation of the land and local community
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through initiatives such as riparian planting and sustainable food practices. Another key pillar is the curriculum programme that deepens what girls are taught in the classroom in a practical outdoor leaning environment based around the land and natural assets. Girls are unplugged from devices and communicate through handwritten letters with loved ones, allowing time for mindfulness, reflection and growth. Our students emerge with new-found resilience, self-confidence and a fresh appreciation of their home and family. “Kahunui is a unique and very special part of what we offer at ST Cuthbert’s to develop well-rounded young women. The experience helps girls become aware of just how resourceful they are, how they can achieve whatever they put their mind to, how they can feel the fear and do it anyway, and how to be at one with the environment.” Justine Mahon, Principal.
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Amazing Futures
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Years 7–13 Academic Curriculum In Years 7 and 8, our students experience a broad range of compulsory subjects taught by both their homeroom teacher and other specialist teachers. This holistic approach enables every girl to determine what subjects she enjoys, where she excels, and what she may want to pursue in Years 9 –13. The Years 7 and 8 academic curriculum comprises of the following:
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Art Drama Dance English Mathematics Music PE and Health Science Social Studies Technology
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Languages In Year 7 girls participate in a ‘languages taster’ programme, encompassing French, Latin, Spanish and Chinese. This supports them to specialise in a choice of two languages in Year 8. Year 7 and 8 girls also study te reo M ori. HUB Programme Our Years 7 and 8 students are introduced to St Cuthbert’s own HUB (Health, University and Beyond) programme, which includes learning more about values and service, philosophy, global citizenship, financial literacy, as well as essential careers and study skills.
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Years 9–10 Years 9 and 10 are a time for the girls to explore potential career paths as well as integrate subjects about which they are passionate. Following on from the subjects available during Years 7 and 8, students continue to take a compulsory programme of:
— Arts Art, Dance, Drama or Music
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English Mathematics PE and Health Science Social Studies Technology Languages French, Chinese, Spanish, Latin or Te Reo Māori
Years 9 and 10 see our girls develop some autonomy in pursuing academic subjects in which they are especially interested. Students are introduced to a broader range of subject options in the areas of language, technology, business studies and the arts. HUB Programme Our Year 9 and 10 students continue the St Cuthbert’s own HUB (Health, University and Beyond) programme, which includes learning about values and service, philosophy, global citizenship, financial literacy, as well as essential careers and study skills.
Years 11–13 NCEA Level 1 In Year 11, all St Cuthbert’s students are expected to complete Level 1 NCEA. They are then given the opportunity to choose between continuing with NCEA Levels 2 and 3 or selecting the International Baccalaureate academic pathway. In Year 11, students are introduced to a curriculum that consists of:
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English Health and Wellbeing Mathematics Science Three additional subject options including: Accounting, Art, Business Studies, Chinese, Dance, Digital Technology, Drama, Economics, French, Geography, History, Latin, Music, Personalised Learning Support (restricted entry course), Physical Education, Product Design, Spanish, Textiles Technology, and Te Reo Māori, or Writing for Publication.
NCEA Levels 2 and 3 NCEA Levels 2 and 3 introduce girls to a wide range of exciting subjects. In Year 12, students take six subjects, one of which must be English, and in Year 13, students can select the five subjects in which they are most interested at this level, no subjects are compulsory. For more information on NCEA and additional subject selection, please refer to the St Cuthbert’s Curriculum Handbook.
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International Baccalaureate The IB Diploma programme is a two-year course for students in Years 12 and 13. Like NCEA, the IB Diploma is recognised in New Zealand and overseas for entry into university. In New Zealand IB Schools, IB students complete NCEA Level 1 in Year 11 and then choose either to continue on the NCEA pathway at Level 2 or begin the two-year IB Diploma programme. The IB Diploma programme is suitable for students who are highly motivated, well-organised, interested in developing their thinking skills and have a dedicated approach to study. For more information on the IB Diploma programme and possible subject selection, please refer to the St Cuthbert’s Curriculum Handbook. HUB Programme At Years 11–13, all students continue to participate in HUB in cohort groups. These years focus on maintaining healthy minds and bodies; recognising different ways of seeing the world through guest speakers on ethics and philosophy; developing financially literate citizens; preparing for future careers; creating successful study habits; relaxation techniques and preparing students for leadership in the School and beyond.
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Your daughter will inherit a very different world from the one we know. Through her time with us she will become equipped for whatever the future looks like.
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Boarding at St Cuthbert’s We understand that living away from home for the first time can be a daunting prospect – however it’s also a time of excitement, independence and life-defining experiences. As a Boarder, your daughter will quickly make many new connections with girls from across New Zealand and around the world. Her teachers, deans, boarding staff and older girls will all keep a special eye on her to make sure she’s settling in, feels supported, and is making friends. All three of our Boarding Houses are located on St Cuthbert’s Epsom campus, providing a safe and secure environment. Additionally, the school provides a comprehensive programme of on-site and off-site activities for our Boarders to enjoy every weekend, ensuring that your daughter has everything she needs to be happy and thrive at St Cuthbert’s. Our Boarding Family The Boarding Family groups are made up of six or seven girls across the different year groups. Girls in these families stay together right through their time at St Cuthbert’s, enabling them to form strong bonds and use their own experiences to assist younger
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members of the family as they progress through the school. New Boarders will also be buddied with a Year 13 student from her family group. The Year 13 student in each family is responsible for the welfare of the students within her group. Once a week these families sit together at mealtimes and plan at least one activity per term to do together. This enables new Boarders to feel part of a group very quickly and provides opportunities to socialise with other year groups. Flexi-Boarding As well as full and weekly boarding options, St Cuthbert’s also offers day students the opportunity to stay on campus short-term with a flexiboarding arrangement. Flexi-boarding is ideal when the girls have school commitments late in the evening or early in the morning. Flexi-boarding can also be used when unexpected family commitments arise.
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Our facilities St Cuthbert’s school grounds seamlessly integrate the school’s rich architectural history with some of the most state-of-the-art facilities available at any New Zealand secondary school.
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The Robertson Building was constructed as St Cuthbert’s main building on the Market Road site in the early 1920s and remains the school’s most imposing and majestic historic facility. This example of neoclassical architecture has cemented the school’s place on the Schedule of Significant Historic Heritage Places and remains the central focal point of the school.
At the heart of the school is the Old Girls’ Chapel, built from the Old Girls’ Association fundraising campaign. It was first opened in 1993 to commemorate their 75th anniversary. This physical demonstration of ‘By Love Serve’ stands to remind our girls of the values of their school.
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Performing Arts Centre
The St Cuthbert’s Performing Arts Centre (better known to our students as ‘PAC’) was opened in 2011 and is home to a number of specialised teaching and rehearsal facilities for our music, dance and drama departments. The rehearsal spaces provide an intimate learning environment for everything from music lessons to smaller-scale drama performances.
The Centennial Centre for Wellbeing (CCW) is St Cuthbert’s newest facility. Opened in 2014, it houses our fitness and aquatic centres, the latter of which has a 25 metre lap pool with a moveable floor for water polo games. The aquatic centre can host up to 250 spectators on its permanent bleachers and this facility hosts a number of public events outside school hours.
The Joan Holland Auditorium has professional lighting systems, a stage and tiered seating for up to 150 people, making it the perfect venue for dance and drama performances, guest speakers and workshops.
In addition to the CCW, the John Wigglesworth Sports Centre features courts for netball, volleyball, basketball, korfball and squash. Used for PE lessons and co-curricular team trainings, the centre is an excellent allweather facility.
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Sports
Some of life’s greatest lessons can be learned on the sports field. Teamwork, perseverance, and endurance in the face of adversity are just some of the skills that your daughter will gain through participating in one of St Cuthbert’s myriad of sporting opportunities.
With more than 30 different sports on offer, the array of sporting opportunities at St Cuthbert’s means that your daughter can try her hand at everything from individual pursuits such as cycling, tennis, and swimming,
to team sports such as football, hockey, netball, and water polo. The school actively encourages girls to participate in as many sports as they wish, both socially and competitively.
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Girls who excel on the sports field are given the opportunity to represent their school at an elite level. With many of St Cuthbert’s current students and Old Girls currently competing at national and international levels, those who wish to seriously pursue their sport will benefit from intensive training and support programmes with some of New Zealand’s top coaches. In addition, they’ll have the opportunity to pitch themselves against other top athletes in local, regional and national tournaments. Athlete Pathway Programme The Athlete Pathway Programme (APP) recognises our top sportswomen at the school and provides each student with greater opportunities and resources to
excel even further in her chosen sport. The objectives of the APP are to build confidence and resilience in our young student athletes, to enhance physical preparation to provide a competitive edge in their chosen sports, and to reduce the likelihood of non-contact injuries related to puberty and growth spurts. As part of the APP, athletes also develop sound movement skills that improve mobility, speed, agility, strength, power, aerobic and anaerobic fitness, which is key to long-term athletic development.
Photo credit: Simon Watts BWmedia
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Sports that our students are able to select from include: Athletics / Badminton / Basketball Cross Country Running / Cricket Duke of Edinburgh / Dragon Boating Equestrian / Football / Gym Sports Hockey / Lacrosse / Multisport Netball / Orienteering / Rock Climbing Skiing / Squash / Surfing / Swimming Table Tennis / Tennis / Touch Rugby Tramping / Water Polo / Yachting.
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St Cuthbert’s Swim School Since opening in 2014, the awardwinning St Cuthbert’s Swim School has established itself as an industry leader in swimming training and water safety best practice. Our friendly, qualified instructors have decades of experience among them and are dedicated to the delivery of a world-class educational programme.
awarded the New Zealand Swim Teachers and Coaches Association (NZSCTA) Most Outstanding Swim School in 2017 and 2018, as well as the winners of the NZSCTA Promotion/ Innovation Award for three years running.
In just a few years, the Swimming New Zealand-appointed Gold Quality Swim School has been recognised by a number of organisations, having been
With a vision to foster a love of the water in Kiwi kids and inspire them to adopt an active and healthy lifestyle, the St Cuthbert’s Swim School is also open for community groups and members of the public to use outside of school hours.
St Cuthbert’s Prospectus
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Amazing Spirit
St Cuthbert’s Prospectus
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St Cuthbert’s Prospectus
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The Performing Arts
With a dedicated Performing Arts Centre, participating in one of St Cuthbert’s many Performing Arts clubs and co-curricular groups will provide your daughter with the freedom to express herself creatively. Whether she feels most at home behind the piano or performing at the front of the stage, there are countless opportunities for her to pursue her creative and artistic passions. Musically inclined students are actively encouraged to participate in a variety of programmes at both a social and elite level; the school’s choirs, bands, orchestras and chamber ensembles consistently gaining awards and recognition in both local and national competitions. Our co-curricular music programmes, where students can elect to learn a variety of instruments, are derived from the Suzuki method and our girls are lucky to have many of the country’s leading Suzuki teachers working with them. Our elite music programmes have an extensive focus on the wellbeing of our young performers. The school runs a programme aimed at preventing and dealing with issues such as performance anxiety and the management of perfectionism, ensuring that our musicians are able to flourish under the pressure of performance. St Cuthbert’s Prospectus
Students with a flair for the dramatic can join the Drama Club, Theatresports or one of the school’s many cultural or contemporary dance troupes. The recently established cocurricular dance troupe, The Company, offers talented senior-level dancers the opportunity to represent their school at events and festivals. Students participate annually in the St Cuthbert’s Shakespeare Soirée, often going on to receive recognition at the SGCNZ Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival. Our girls also enjoy participating in the school musical. Our Year 13 students are active leaders in student led initiatives, such as the annual House Performance, Talent Quest, Production Crew and the Performing Arts Committee, and these opportunities are acknowledged through ceremonies such as our Cultural Honours Awards Evening. Page — 52
St Cuthbert’s Prospectus
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St Cuthbert’s Prospectus
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Additional co-curricular activities
There are a number of co-curricular opportunities offered by St Cuthbert’s that are designed to further our girls’ critical thinking, problem solving, and interpersonal skills by actively contributing to the broader school community. With everything from the Robotics Club to the Physics Problem Solving Club on offer, we are confident that your daughter will find an activity that aligns with her interests. The school’s Future Problem Solving (FPS) and Community Problem Solving (CPS) teams are actively encouraged to think critically and devise creative solutions for potential issues facing the school and the community at large. This enables our students to identify problems, research complex topics, and implement their solutions in the broader community.
St Cuthbert’s Prospectus
Groups such as the Sustainability Group (GCSUS) and the Global Citizenship committees ensure that the school is actively acknowledging its commitment to the tenants of Global Citizenship and the wider values of the school. The school also encourages girls to think critically about the world around them by supporting the creation publication of the student magazine Margin, which further gives the girls a voice on campus. Each month, the magazine tackles a wide array of issues facing our girls in society today, and is a valuable contribution to, and a reflection of, student life at St Cuthbert’s.
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Developing well-rounded girls Mission Vision Values — Supporting each girl to strive for her personal best — Leadership through service to others
— Creating a sense of belonging and involvement in the St Cuthbert’s family — Becoming Global Citizens and future leaders
Strategic Pillars — Girls need to be happy to achieve their personal best, and we care for every girl’s wellbeing through leading wraparound pastoral care and self-awareness initiatives
— Our all-girls’ environment offers every girl the freedom to just be herself so she can bloom in her own time — We are a Knowledge Rich School, providing a strong conceptual framework that is delivered by teachers with a deep love of learning
— We develop the spiritual, physical, and emotional health of every girl through initiatives such as our unique outdoor social education programme at our award-winning Kahunui campus
Governance St Cuthbert’s Prospectus
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To offer the very best all girls’ education in an environment where she will make lifelong friends.
Enable every girl to succeed and thrive – through developing her individual strengths, expanding her thinking, and building her inner confidence.
Our motto ‘By Love Serve’ is at the heart of our school compass: — Following Christian values in the Presbyterian tradition
— Sustaining a commitment to academic excellence and intellectual rigour
— Fostering a culture of continuous improvement, underpinned by research and models of best practice
— Providing each girl with the analytical, creative, digital and entrepreneurial analytical skills needed to future-proof her chosen path
— We will ensure every girl develops a strong sense of Global Citizenship providing her with the knowledge, leadership skills and values to enable her to understand her individual and collective role in the world — With a strong focus on STEAM, we will teach every girl the financial and entrepreneurial skills to ensure she is independent and forwardthinking
— We enable every girl to discover her unique strengths and talents, and support the development of well-rounded girls through sport, cultural activities, and the performing arts — We recognise some girls learn differently, and we support diverse learners through our Personalised Learning Philosophy
St Cuthbert’s is governed by a Trust Board whose role is to oversee strategic planning for the school and to ensure that the school is upholding the vision and values of its founders. St Cuthbert’s Prospectus
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Old Girls’ Association Run by a voluntary committee representing past students, the Old Girls’ Association ensures that, once our girls leave the school gates, they will continue to foster those everlasting friendships developed over their time at St Cuthbert’s. The Association also provides invaluable networking and mentoring opportunities as well as offering scholarship and fundraising support that enriches the entire St Cuthbert’s community. Networking Opportunities From the Bay of Plenty to Brisbane, Los Angeles to London, and everywhere in between, a number of Old Girls’ branches have been established to connect former students who live outside Auckland.These invaluable networking opportunities provide our Old Girls with a link to St Cuthbert’s, wherever they may be. Fundraising The Old Girls’ Association continues to embody the spirit of ‘By Love Serve’ by organising functions and fundraisers to further progress the development of the school. The Old Girls’ Association has contributed to building projects
St Cuthbert’s Prospectus
such as the Old Girls’ Chapel, a cottage at Kahunui, and the Old Girls’ Health Education Centre in the Centennial Centre for Wellbeing. Scholarships The Old Girls’ Association also provides scholarships for students in Years 9–13. These are awarded to girls who will benefit from the school’s philosophy of striving for excellence and realising potential. Find out more about the Old Girls’ Association by visiting stcuthberts.school.nz/old-girlsassociation/
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Talk to us
We welcome girls right throughout Years 0–13. While many girls start at Years 0–1, Year 7, Year 9, or Year 11, we also offer places across all other year groups, depending on availability. If you’d like to talk to one of our Admission team members, we’d be happy to chat through the process and answer any questions you may have. We also invite you to attend one of our Open Days or contact us to arrange a personal tour at any time. Apply online stcuthberts.school.nz/apply
St Cuthbert’s Prospectus
Contact us Call: +64 9 520 8472 Email: admissions@stcuthberts.school. nz Visit our school: 122 Market Road, Epsom, Auckland 1051, New Zealand View our website: stcuthberts.school.nz Discover us on Facebook: facebook.com/StCuthbertsCollege Photography: BWMedia photography and St Cuthbert’s.
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