Study Services

School Overview

Saint Kentigern, founded in 1953, is New Zealand’s largest independent church school group. Comprising three schools, it offers a complete education from Year 1 through to Year 13, with a total enrolment exceeding 3,300 students. The school operates on Christian principles with a Presbyterian heritage, holds the highest Decile rating of 10, and is ranked sixth nationally in 2026.

The three schools within the group are:

• Saint Kentigern Boys’ School — Located in Remuera, enrolling boys in Years 1-8, approximately 658 students
• Saint Kentigern Girls’ School — Located in Remuera, enrolling girls in Years 1-8, approximately 396 students
• Saint Kentigern College — Located in Pakuranga, enrolling boys and girls in Years 7-13, approximately 2,334 students

The school’s core values are: Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Love.

A Distinctive Phased Education Model

Saint Kentigern employs a unique “phased gender education” model, thoughtfully arranging single-sex and co-educational settings according to students’ developmental needs at different stages:

Years 1-6 (Primary) — Single-Sex Education Boys attend the Boys’ School (Remuera) and girls attend the Girls’ School (Remuera). Research shows that a single-sex environment at the primary level helps children explore learning with greater confidence, and the curriculum is tailored to the distinct learning characteristics of boys and girls respectively. The Boys’ School focuses on building confidence and a spirit of exploration, while the Girls’ School nurtures each girl’s potential within a warm, supportive, small-class environment.

Years 7-10 (Middle School) — Parallel Education Model Students transition to Saint Kentigern College in Pakuranga. During this phase, the school adopts a “parallel education” approach: boys and girls share the same campus but are taught core subjects in separate classes. During adolescence, single-sex classrooms typically help students achieve stronger academic outcomes, while students interact naturally in extracurricular activities and social settings.

Years 11-13 (Senior School) — Co-Educational Boys and girls are taught together, developing teamwork and collaboration skills in preparation for university and professional life. Students may choose between the NCEA (New Zealand national curriculum) and the IB Diploma Programme.

Curriculum

Saint Kentigern College offers both the IB Diploma Programme and the NCEA (New Zealand national curriculum). NCEA pass rates at all levels exceed 97%, while the IB Diploma pass rate stands at 93%. In Year 11, all students begin with NCEA Level 1, after which they may choose to continue with NCEA or transition to the IB Diploma Programme.

Subjects offered include: English, Mathematics, Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), Humanities and Social Sciences, Commerce (Accounting, Economics, Business Studies), multiple foreign languages (French, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Latin), the Arts (Visual Arts, Music, Dance, Drama), and Technology.

Graduates have gained admission to world-leading universities including Princeton, Stanford, Columbia, New York University, Brown, the University of Chicago, and MIT.

International Students

Saint Kentigern welcomes international students and provides comprehensive support services:

• ESOL Support — Helps students whose first language is not English to develop their language skills and integrate into the classroom
• On-Campus Boarding — The College (Pakuranga) offers on-campus boarding facilities where students can experience authentic school boarding life, with rooms overlooking the sea
• Pastoral Care — A dedicated International Student Coordinator monitors academic progress and daily welfare throughout the year
• International Exchanges — A rich programme of overseas trips including the Scottish Pipe Band Tour, US Performing Arts Tour, and European History Tour
• Primary Level — International student families are required to arrange for a parent to accompany their child; the school can assist with homestay arrangements

Campus Locations

1. Boys’ School (Remuera)

• Address: 82 Shore Road, Remuera, Auckland
• Years: Year 1-8 (boys)
• Features: Located in one of Auckland’s most sought-after premium residential areas, with a campus surrounded by mature trees in a peaceful setting

2. Girls’ School (Remuera)

• Address: 514 Remuera Road, Remuera, Auckland
• Years: Year 1-8 (girls)
• Features: Situated in the same Remuera neighbourhood as the Boys’ School, offering small class sizes and an excellent teacher-to-student ratio

3. College (Pakuranga)

• Address: 130 Pakuranga Road, Pakuranga, Auckland
• Years: Year 7-13 (co-educational)
• Features: A 40-hectare park-like campus adjacent to the Tamaki Estuary, with the 1,000-seat Elliot Hall, a professional music centre, dance studios, and extensive sports grounds

Application Process

1. Contact Letu Education for a free assessment
2. Confirm the appropriate campus and availability based on your child’s age and gender
3. Prepare application documents
4. Submit the enrolment application
5. Apply for a student visa upon receiving the offer of place
6. Arrange homestay / on-campus boarding and airport transfer services