Country & territory guide

Compare schools across New Zealand.

New Zealand's reviewed destinations offer national, Cambridge and IB pathways with school-specific transitions between years. Compare Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and other locality collections against the child's intended qualification and start date. For younger pupils considering NCEA, ask about the national pathway changes announced for their future cohort rather than assuming today's senior route remains unchanged.

29 included profiles · 23 destination collections · 2 dated tuition schedules

This is a selected directory, with different levels of evidence in each collection. Open the named campus profile to check its curriculum phases, review date and sources before contacting admissions.

Planning a school search in New Zealand

Read the actual sequence before choosing a qualification

ACG Parnell in Auckland publishes Cambridge Primary in Years 0–6, Lower Secondary in Years 7–9, IGCSE in Years 10–11 and AS/A levels in Years 12–13. Scots College in Wellington uses its own Year 11 Tohu programme before a choice of NCEA or the IB Diploma in Years 12–13. St Margaret's College in Christchurch similarly describes a school Foundation Diploma in Year 11 preparing for NCEA Levels 2–3 or the IB Diploma. These distinctions matter when a child transfers just before senior study. Ask about the joining year's subjects, assessment already completed and the preparation expected for the chosen route; a national label does not establish the same Year 11 programme everywhere.

Sources: ACG Parnell: Cambridge phases and Lower Secondary campus · Scots College: Year 11 Tohu and senior qualification choices · St Margaret's College: Foundation Diploma and senior routes

Compare destination, division and a child's ordinary week

Use the Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch collections to identify specific schools rather than comparing city reputations. ACG Parnell's curriculum page identifies its Titoki campus for Lower Secondary, so ask which teaching site serves each proposed year. A family with children in different phases needs separate addresses, start times and collection arrangements, even when one school name covers them. Request the timetable, transport service and practical arrangements for after-school activities. Discuss English-language support separately from additional-language subjects. For any boarding enquiry, ask about permitted entry years, supervision, weekends and holiday accommodation; the existence of a senior academic pathway does not establish a suitable residential place.

Sources: ACG Parnell: Cambridge phases and Lower Secondary campus · Scots College: Year 11 Tohu and senior qualification choices · St Margaret's College: Foundation Diploma and senior routes

Plan the cohort transition and the full NZD bill

The Ministry's announcement describes changes to the national NCEA pathway: a literacy and numeracy Foundational Award benchmarked at Year 11 from 2028, a New Zealand Certificate of Education for Year 12 from 2029 and a New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education for Year 13 from 2030. Discuss the announced changes with the receiving school for the child's intended programme and cohort; current pages describe present NCEA, Cambridge or IB offers. Ask for a written transition plan rather than applying one year's senior prospectus indefinitely. Obtain a current NZD quotation for the applicable domestic or international category, including boarding if relevant, joining charges, transport, meals, examinations and support. Unknown tuition is an enquiry, not an implied low-cost option.

Sources: New Zealand Ministry: announced replacement qualification schedule · Scots College: Year 11 Tohu and senior qualification choices · St Margaret's College: Foundation Diploma and senior routes

Curriculum pathways recorded across the collection

Each row combines evidence from several profiles. Its phases may be offered at different schools; it does not mean every school provides every phase. Online delivery is listed separately. Open the school profile for its exact route and eligibility.

Documented routes in the included New Zealand profiles
Route and delivery	Recorded phases across profiles	Included profiles and source examples
New ZealandOn campus	Primary, Secondary, Sixth form	24 profiles Christ’s College · Pathway source Hereworth School · Pathway source
BritishOn campus	Primary, Secondary, Sixth form	5 profiles ACG Parnell College · Pathway source ACG Strathallan · Pathway source
IBOn campus	Early years, Primary, Secondary, Sixth form	5 profiles Kristin School · Pathway source Queen Margaret College · Pathway source

Parent questions about New Zealand schools

Does every New Zealand school use NCEA Level 1 in Year 11?

No. Scots College publishes its Tohu programme, and St Margaret's College publishes a Foundation Diploma designed to prepare students for later NCEA or IB study. Ask the school what is taught and assessed in the offered year and how a transfer fits that sequence; do not substitute a generic Year 11 label for its actual programme.

Sources: Scots College: Year 11 Tohu and senior qualification choices · St Margaret's College: Foundation Diploma and senior routes

Should a younger child's long-term plan assume NCEA remains unchanged?

No. The Ministry has announced staged replacement qualifications from 2028–2030. Confirm the pathway intended for the child's cohort with the school, including how subject selection and transfers will be handled. This guide identifies the announced schedule and current school offers; it does not determine an individual pupil's future qualification or transition arrangements.

Sources: New Zealand Ministry: announced replacement qualification schedule

Start with a destination collection

The following collections have the most included profiles. Counts describe directory coverage, rather than local market size or school quality.

View all 23 destination collections

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