International
Haere Mai Welcome to St Margaret’s College Here at St Margaret’s College, we are proud of the diversity of our community, spanning Asia, Africa, Europe and the Pacific, day girls and boarders, and including girls who are talented sportswomen, artists, performers, budding tech entrepreneurs, writers, and global ambassadors and humanitarians. We place immense value on the cultural and global perspectives our girls from around the world bring to our school community. Our international students participate fully in every part of school life, and are actively encouraged to get involved with the more than 80 co-curricular activities available here, in sport and performing arts, while enjoying New Zealand’s natural beauty and unique culture. Many of our international students receive additional, tailored support in their studies, and all of our girls have a team of people who can wrap around them as part of our pastoral care. Our boarding community ensures our girls are made to feel at home here in Christchurch.
Our focus at SMC is how we can be the best for our girls, so that they can be the best they can be in their academic, personal development and co-curricular pursuits. I look forward to welcoming you to our campus in future, so that you can see for yourself the breadth of opportunities we offer our international students, and the strength of our school community. Diana Patchett, Executive Principal
Vision To create empathetic, confident and connected global citizens, who value personal excellence and strive to make a positive difference.
Purpose Empowering girls to learn, live and lead.
Christchurch
Auckland
New Zealand St Margaret’s College is a leading independent school for girls from Year 0-13, located in the heart of Christchurch – Ōtautahi, in New Zealand’s South Island.
Christchurch Queenstown Dunedin
12 minutes to the International Airport 1.5 hours to the mountains
18 minutes to the beach 5 minutes to the City Center
Why choose SMC? World-class academic results
Only girls’ school in South Island to offer International Baccalaureate and NCEA
Three comfortable boarding houses designed to support girls’ increasing self-management
110 year history of setting girls up for success
Tailored, engaging and challenging Year 11 curriculum unique to SMC
850 students and 192 staff, including a wide range of specialist teachers
Class sizes of 20 or fewer
Only New Zealand girls’ school to be recognised as a Middle Years School of Excellence
Availability of dedicated English language acquisition specialist support
Academic results 2021 NCEA Level 1 – 98% Excellence 49% Level 2 – 99% Excellence 33% Level 3 – 99% Excellence 30% University Entrance – 98%
Merit 33% Merit 41% Merit 42%
IB University Entrance – 100%
Our students consistently achieve results amongst the highest in New Zealand, and for IB, in the top 5% globally.
Opportunities Academic life at SMC is balanced with a co-curricular programme of more than 80 activities for students to explore across the arts, culture, sport and technology. Many groups are led by our senior girls, reinforcing strong big sister/little sister relationships, allowing our girls to develop together as well-rounded students and creating opportunities for lifelong friendships.
Performing Arts Dance Jazz Dance Hip Hop Dance Highland Dance Ballet
Sport Visual Art Photography Stitches Club Exhibitions
Wordsmith Debating Drama Shakespeare Festivals Tea and Philosophy Poetry Theatresports Speech and Drama Innovation Technical Teams Music Private music lessons Robotics Construction Choirs Minecraft Orchestras Gadgets Bands
Archery Athletics Badminton Basketball Bowls Climbing Cricket Croquet Cross Country Cycling Dragon Boating Equestrian Football (Soccer) Football (Soccer) – Indoor
Adventure Skeet Club Golf Badminton Gymnastics Skiing/ Basketball Hockey Snowboarding Cross Country Softball Korfball Football (Soccer) Lawn Bowls Sport Climbing Hockey Lifesaving Lifesaving Summer Hockey Multi-Sport Surfing Netball Netball Orienteering Swimming Table Tennis Netball –Rugby Indoor Rugby Sevens Polo Tennis Royal LifeSquash Saving Touch Triathlon Rowing Skiing/Snowboarding Volleyball Rugby Waka Ama Rugby Sevens Water Polo Squash
SMC Academic Pathways Universities and other tertiary education Year 13
IB Diploma
NCEA Level 3
NZQA scholarships may be taken from Year 12 on either pathway
Year 12
IB Diploma
NCEA Level 2
Year 11
Senior School Foundation Diploma
Year 7 –10
Year 0 – 6
New Zealand Curriculum New Zealand Curriculum
Curriculum International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) Individuals & Societies > Geography SL/HL > Economics SL/HL > History SL/HL > Environmental Systems SL Language Acquisition � Chinese SL/HL & ab initio � French SL/HL & ab initio > Spanish SL/HL & ab initio Language & Literature � English SL > English HL Mathematics > Mathematics: Analysis and approaches SL/HL > Mathematics: Applications and interpretation SL/HL
Sciences > Biology SL/HL > Chemistry SL/HL > Design Technology SL/HL > Environmental Systems SL > Physics SL/HL The Arts > Music SL/HL > Theatre Studies SL/HL > Art SL/HL > Dance SL/HL
Key: SL – Standard Level HL – Higher Level ab initio – Language subject started in Y12 IB without previous experience or learning
National Certificate for Educational Achievement (NCEA) Creative Technologies > Digital Media > Textiles > Design and Visual Communication > Home Economics – Food & Nutrition English > English Literature > English > English Scholarship > English with Humanities Health & Physical Education > Physical Education with Health > Health Studies > LEAP – Leadership, Exercise, Attitude, Performance, Physical Education Humanities > Geography > Economics > History > Business Studies > History of Art > Classical Studies > Accounting
Languages > French > Chinese > Japanese > Spanish > Te Reo Mathematics > Mathematics > Calculus > Statistics Performing Arts > Dance > Drama > Music Sciences > Physics > Biology > Science > Chemistry > Human Biology Visual Art > Art > Photography > Painting > Design > Printmaking
Boarding By creating a warm, caring home away from home, boarding at SMC provides the opportunity for a first class education while building strong relationships and learning lifelong values. Our three comfortable boarding houses are arranged in year groups, and tailored to the specific needs of each developmental stage. The boarding environment helps International Students to develop friendships and rapidly improve their English language. Each of our boarding houses has a dedicated team of experienced and caring staff who are committed to ensuring the emotional health and wellbeing of each student, while ensuring close connections are maintained with home. Our staff provide the support to enable our girls to flourish academically and succeed in their co-curricular aspirations, while maintaining high expectations around discipline and respect within our boarding community.
Pastoral Care Our support network for your daughter
International Director and team English Language Learning teacher
Boarding staff
Head of Schools
Tutor teacher
Year level Dean
Chaplain
Health Center
Subject teacher Counselors
Future Pathways SMC’s educational pathways prepare students for success at University and life beyond. SMC’s graduates have gone on to attend Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College, Monash and Sydney amongst others.
Testimonials “St Margaret’s College has been a very special school for me. It has enabled me to find my confidence, take the lead, and adapt to new environments – all really helpful to my new journey starting at university. St Margaret’s College has helped me on the way to becoming the best of myself. I am very grateful.” Youyu Zhang
(2021 Graduate: Studying Health Science at Otago University)
“The amazing opportunities that St Margarets have provided me allowed me to learn and grow in a supportive environment to become the independent person I am today. In the end, I didn’t just gain friends but I’ve made lifelong sisters that I continue to keep in touch with to this day.” Emma Chiang
(2020 Graduate: Studying Commerce at Canterbury University)
“For the past two years, my daughter has enjoyed the school so much and appreciated the attention the teachers paid to the academic needs of each and every student. On top of this academic advantage the school offers, we are so pleased to see how the school encourages the girls to be more socially responsible and well-rounded so that they become global citizens for a better world. We can proudly say that choosing St Margaret’s College for our daughter was one of the best education decisions we have made so far.” Ju Oh (Mother of Year 13 student)
Enrolment Process How to apply: > Complete online enroller application form: enroller.app/st-margarets-college/enrolment-application > Participate in an online interview > Complete an Oxford English Language Proficiency test > Receive a conditional offer of place > Payment of fees > Receive an unconditional offer of place and receipt
Key Contacts Deanne Gath Director of International and Boarding deanne.gath@stmargarets.school.nz +64 27 215 5366 Ruth Major International and Boarding Administrator ruth.major@stmargarets.school.nz +64 21 048 9330
St Margaret’s College 12 Winchester Street Merivale, Christchurch 8014 New Zealand +643 379 2000 stmargarets.school.nz
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