Study at St Catherine's College

St Catherine's College offers tuition from year 9 to year 13. These will lead to the achievement of the New Zealand qualifications of the National Certificates of Educational Achievements ( NCEA), which is the main university qualification in New Zealand.

 

 

Our Programmes

Short Term Programmes

St Catherine's College also offers a variety of Short Term Programmes.

It can be from two weeks, up to one or more terms, Yearly Programmes or a group visit.

Long Term Programmes

St Catherine's College  offers long term Programmes for those who wish to fulfill their dreams and to carry on further education in New Zealand.

If you are interested in keeping your study and stepping into university education, you must study for at least two years in New Zealand, preferably three, at years 11, 12 and 13 to achieve university entrance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Houses and Whānau Groups

 

At St Catherine’s College, we have four houses: St Anne’s, St Bernadettes, St Joan’s and St Thressa’s. These houses are broken into 12 Whānau groups. Each Whānau has approximately 20 students in it, and is a mix of year levels. Students stay in this Whānau for all of their schooling at  St Catherine’s College.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buddy System

 

We have a buddy system at St Catherine’s College. An international student gets paired with a domestic student, usually from the same year, or even from the same Whānau. A buddy system helps to promote friendship, better support of coursework, behavioral and social needs, and can foster a greater sense of belonging and a more inclusive school community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pastoral Care

 

At St Catherine’s College we aim to provide an environment which empowers students to develop to their full potential.

Each student has the support and guidance of their Whānau Group and Teachers, Guidance Counselor, Dean, Careers Adviser, Director of Religious Studies, Pastoral Deputy Principal and Student Leaders.

 

 

 

 

Clubs

 

There are a range of lunchtime activities, and many options to join clubs and groups that are actively involved in students’ particular specialist areas: Kapa Haka, Poly Club, Dragon Boating, Volleyball, Badminton and many more exciting opportunities!

 

 

School Achievement

NCEA results in 2025

NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement) is a system used in New Zealand to assess students' achievements. 

It comprises three levels: Level 1, 2, and 3, with achievement standards and unit standards. Students’ performance is measured against these standards to obtain credits.

By attending school, setting goals, managing time efficiently, seeking help when needed, and maintaining a positive attitude towards learning, students can strive for excellence in their NCEA results.

 

St Catherine's College Results:

 

• Level 1 - 93.9% achieved which surpassed the 90% target and matched the 2024 results.
• Level 2 - 96.1% achieved, which didn’t meet the 98% target, but still showed an increase of 2% from 2024.
• Level 3 - 94.1% achieved which surpassed the 90% target and saw a 1.8% increase from 2024.
• University Entrance - 91.2% achieved which surpassed the 80% target and showed a 6.2% increase from 2024.
• Level 1 Literacy - 100% achieved, which met the target and showed a 2% increase from 2024.
• Level 1 Numeracy - 97.2% achieved, which was below the 100% target and the 2024 result of 100%

The attached image shows the comparison with other schools in New Zealand (all schools and similar schools in the Equity Index band). 

Our own data analysis shows there is a strong correlation between attendance and academic success.

 

We are very proud of the academic results achieved by our students. NZQA data shows that St Catherine's College students consistently perform above the national average for all New Zealand schools, including other girls' schools. Students have achieved at similar or higher levels than in previous years in the recent few years.

 

Scholarships

 

St Catherine’s College is about excellence in more than academic results. We aim for students to leave the College as 21st Century Women of Mercy. This can be seen in contributions to the community, service, leadership and participation in various activities.

This is recognised by the over $374,250 worth of Tertiary and other scholarships offered to our senior students in 2025..

In 2025, 23 out of 34 Year 13 students have applied for scholarships. Of these 23, 19 have been successful!