International Schools in New Zealand

Diploma and graduate hat - Fotolia

You will find below a list of the most popular international and bilingual schools for expats in New Zealand with fee information. It includes nursery schools, primary and secondary (high) schools and you will find the right school to prepare for International Baccalaureate or other diploma in New Zealand. Schools may follow the local New Zealand or the American or British curriculum with English speaking programs while others run under the French, Italian or German education system.

Education in New Zealand

Education in New Zealand is compulsory from the age of 6 to 16. The system includes primary and intermediate schools, followed by secondary schools (high schools) and tertiary education at university.

The school year runs from early February to mid-December for primary schools, late January to late November or early December for secondary schools and polytechnics, and from late February til mid-November for universities.

New Zealand had an informal, but well-established education system led by the native Māori until 1815 when formal European-style schooling was introduced. New Zealand established a state education system in 1877. There are three types of schools in New Zealand: state (public) schools, state-integrated schools and private (independent) schools.

International Schools

International schools can be the perfect solution for an expat student (multinational corporation executives, children of diplomats, NGO staff) in New Zealand. There may be some local population, but the schools are geared for an international student body. In New Zealand, private schools do not need to follow the national curriculum, but must have a curriculum that is at least equivalent to NZC or TMoA. Though public schools aren't free unless the student is a Zealand citizen or permanent resident, the fees are oftne cheaper than international school. However, even with these fees, state schools are still a cheaper option for expat parents looking for affordable schooling in New Zealand.

Schools usually follow a curriculum model from the US, UK, or France and primary instruction may be any language (and multiple languages are usually taught), but it is usually in English. Many schools provide similar standards of schooling around the globe, providing for an easy transition between schools whether they are in France or Vietnam. Schools often provide internationally accepted accreditation such as the international baccalaureate.

Admission and enrollment procedures vary from school to school. Space is often limited and preference may be given to students based on nationality. Tuition tends to be expensive based on local standards, but offers high standards of learning, boast smaller class sizes, first-rate facilities, and extracurricular. Boarding facilities are available at some schools, but most only provide day classes.

Accreditation

The CoIS (Council of International Schools) is a non-profit association of international schools and post-secondary institutions which provides educational accreditation, teacher and leadership recruitment services, links to higher education, governance assistance and help with founding new schools. IB schools in New Zealand are members of the Association of Australasian International Baccalaureate Schools (AAIBS).

International Schools in New Zealand

International Schools in Auckland

ACG Senior College
Address: 66 Lorne Street, Auckland, New Zealand
Tel: 64 9 307 4477
Tuition Rates: NZ $19,875 - $20,385 per year

This international school in downtown Auckland offers Cambridge IGCSE and A-Levels or the IB Diploma for senior secondary college students year 11 to 13. Students can take courses at various levels such as IGCSE and AS. Some students in Year 13 study at Senior College part-time and attend university courses at the University of Auckland. There is no uniform, but a dress code.

Auckland International College (AIC)
Address: 37 Heaphy Street, Blockhouse Bay Auckland 0600 New Zealand
Tel: 64 9 309 4480
Tuition Rates: NZ $26,800 per year

Auckland International College is a private school with boarding facilities, open to male and female students. It offers a 3-year senior secondary school education and is the only New Zealand school where all students study the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and it has the largest number of IB Diploma students in New Zealand. Uniform is required.

Auckland Normal Intermediate School (ANI)
Address: Poronui Street Mt Eden 1024 Auckland
Tel: 64 9 630 1109
Tuition Rates: NZ $12,300 per year

Auckland Normal Intermediate School is a two-year school catering to students aged 11-13 years. It is an IB World School with the IB Primary Years Programme. ANI is coed and state-funded with boarding facilities. Its curriculum is base on the French concept of ‘ecole normale’ as a model school where exemplary teaching practice was shared with student teachers. Uniform is required.

Bucklands Beach Intermediate School (BBI)
Address: Poronui Street Mt Eden 1024 Auckland
Tel: 64 9 630 1109
Tuition Rates: Inquire at the school

Bucklands Beach Intermediate School is an IB World School with the IB Primary Years Programme for students 11-13 years old. The program is two-years and it is co-educational. Instruction is in English with Te Reo Maori as its official second language. The school is state funded and located in a suburb 15 kilometres east of Auckland. Uniform is required.

Diocesan School for Girls
Address: Clyde St, Epsom, Auckland 1051
Tel: 64 9 520 9225
Tuition Rates: NZ $18,060 - 20,950 per year / International $35,400 - 40,700 per year

Located in Epsom, about 10 minutes drive from Auckland’s CBD, Diocesan School for Girls is an IB World School with the Primary Years Programme and IB Diploma Programme. The school is private, for female students and has boarding facilities for up to 55 students in Year 9 to 13. There is a historic chapel and the school adheres to Anglican standards. There are also modern facilities like an aquatic center and sports buildings. Uniform is required.

Kristin School
Address: 360 Albany Highway, Albany, Auckland
Tel: 64 09 415 9566
Tuition Rates: NZ $4,140 - 5,225 per term / International $28,500 - 35,950 per year

Kristin School is an IB World School with the IB Primary Years Programme, IB Middle Years Programme and IB Diploma Programme. It is an independent private co-educational school from kindergarten through to Year 13. There is a performing arts center, sports and services for international students. Short-term international students generally enter in the Middle and Senior Schools, and attend for a minimum of one term of nine to ten weeks, and a maximum of four terms (a full academic year). Uniform is required. 

Sherwood Primary School
Address: 360 Albany Highway, Albany, Auckland
Tel: 64 09 415 9566
Tuition Rates: NZ $377 - 630 per year

Sherwood Primary School is an IB World School with the IB Primary Years Programme. The school is state funded and is co-ed. International students are integrated into mainstream classes in order to learn English in a natural way and fully experience our culture. Uniform is required.

St Cuthbert's College
Address: 360 Albany Highway, Albany, Auckland
Tel: 64 09 520 4159
Tuition Rates: NZ $18,168 - 21,544 / International $36,336 - 43,088 / Boarding $15,180

St. Cuthbert's College is a private IB World School with the IB Diploma Programme. It is only open to girls and there are boarding facilities. Uniform is required.

Saint Kentigern College
Address: 130 Pakuranga Road, Pakuranga 2140 Auckland 
Tel: 09 577 0749
Tuition Rates: International NZ $37,380

Saint Kentigern College actually has four schools located on three campuses surrounding Auckland. It offers the IB Diploma Programme. There is a co-ed pre-school, seperate boys and girls school til grade 8 and coed college. Some campuses have boarding facilities. Uniform is required.

Takapuna Grammar School
Address: 210 Lake Road Takapuna 0622 Auckland
Tel: 64 9 489 4167
Tuition Rates: Inquire at the school

Takapuna Grammar School is an IB World School with the IB Diploma Programme. The school is state funded and co-ed. Home stays are facilitated for students interested in staying with a local family. Uniform is required.

Takapuna Normal Intermediate School (TNIS)
Address: 26 Northcote Road, Takapuna 0622 Auckland
Tel: 64 9 489 3940
Tuition Rates: NZ $18,168 - 21,544 / International $36,336 - 43,088 / Boarding $15,180

Takapuna Normal Intermediate School is an IB World School with the IB Primary Years Programme. The school is state funded, co-ed and has a variety of extra curricular activities.

French International Schools in Auckland

La Petite École
Address: Auckland
Tuition Rates: Inquire at the school

French immersion preschool programme for children aged 3 to 5. Sessions are in several locations around Auckland with all instruction in French by a native-speaking teachers.​ Only French is spoken and children are taught French etiquette, manners, hygiene standards, and health and safety.

International Schools in Christchurch

Selwyn House School
Address: 122 Market Road, Epsom 1051 Auckland
Tel: 64 03 355 7299
Tuition Rates: Inquire at the school

Selwyn House School is an IB World School with the IB Primary Years Programme. It is the only South Island International Baccalaureate Independent Girls' Primary School. It has a private day and boarding school with an attached co-ed preschool. Uniform is required.

St Margaret's College
Address: 12 Winchester Street Merivale 8014 Christchurch
Tel: 64 3 379 2000
Tuition Rates: NZ $12,023.25 - 20,801.20 per year / International $25,407.90 - 37,111.45

St Margaret is a private day and boarding school for female students for Year 1 - 13 with junior, middle and senior schools, as well as a pre-school. It is the only school in Christchurch to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (Years 12-13). St Margaret’s was founded on Anglican Christian values and has sports and cultural programs. Uniform is required.

International Schools in Dunedin

John McGlashan College (JMC)
Address: 2 Pilkington Street, Maori Hill, Dunedin 9010
Tel: 64 9 520 9225
Tuition Rates: NZ $357.50 per term / $3,454.75 boarding per term

John McGlashan College is an IB World School with the IB Diploma Programme. It is private with boarding facilities and is open to male students. It is open for students year 7-13. There are extensive sports, clubs and extra-curriculars. Uniform is required.

International Schools in Glendowie

Glendowie Primary School
Address: 217 Riddell 1071 Glendowie
Tel: 03 467 6620
Tuition Rates: Inquire at the school

Glendowie Primary School is an IB World School with the IB Primary Years Programme. The school is state funded, co-ed, with an International and National Curriculum for students from age 5 to 13. There are language rooms to support students who are second language learners (ESOL) as well as rooms for International languages and the national language, te reo Maori. Uniform is required.

International Schools in Hamilton

Berkley Normal Middle School
Address: 26 Berkley Avenue 3216 Hamilton
Tel: 64 7 856 6537
Tuition Rates: Individual Costs for Programs

Berkley Normal Middle School is  an IB World School with the IB Primary Years Programme. They offer New Zealand curriculum and it is state funded. There are additional fees for music and ooutdoor program. Uniform is required.

St Peter's School, Cambridge
Address: 217 Riddell 1071 Glendowie
Tel: 03 467 6620
Tuition Rates: NZ $16,500 - 21,450 per year / Boarding $12,000 - 13,650 / International $35,200 - 41,200 per year

St Peter's School, Cambridge is a private IB World School with the IB Diploma Programme. It has boarding facilities and is co-ed. There are sports and arts programs. St Peter's Cambridge and Lincoln University present a demonstration dairy farm partnership, Owl Farm, a joint venture to provide useful facts for dairy farmers in New Zealand. Uniform is required.

International Schools in Mairangi Bay

Rangitoto College
Address: 564 East Coast Road Mairangi Bay
Tel: 64 9 477 0150
Tuition Rates: Inquire at the school

Rangitoto College is an IB World School with the IB Diploma Programme. The school is state funded and open to male and female students. It offers the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) and the International Baccalaureate (IB). All students living in the In Zone Home area have the automatic right to attend the College. Students living outside the In Zone Home area can apply under the Out Of Zone Selective Ballot process. Uniform is required.

International Schools on Waiheke Island

Waiheke Primary School
Address: 26 Sea View Road, Waiheke Island
Tel: 64 9 37 22006
Tuition Rates: Inquire at the school

Located on an island off the coast of Auckalnd, this school offers IB Primary Years Programme. It is state funded and co-ed for students Years 1–8. Shima Sushi provides fresh sushi rolls to WPS students and staff on Tuesdays. Uniform is required.

International Schools in Wellington

Chilton Saint James School
Address: 26 Berkley Avenue 3216 Hamilton
Tel: 64 7 856 6537
Tuition Rates: NZ $30,350 per year

Chilton is an IB World School with the IB Primary Years Programme from preschool to year 6. The school is Anglican, private and open to female students. Students from years 10 – 13 have the opportunity to study NCEA subjects on flexible programmes. There is a dance program and extra curriculars. Uniforms are required.

Queen Margaret College (QMC)
Address: 53 Hobson St, Thorndon, Wellington 6011
Tel: 04 2358 819
Tuition Rates: NZ $3,652.68 - 4,788.46 per term / Boarding $16,000 per year

Queen Margaret College is an IB World School with the IB Primary Years Programme and IB Diploma Programme and offers it as a dual pathway with the New Zealand NCEA qualification. The school is private, and open to female students. The College provides education from Pre-School to Year 13 with boarding from year 9 to 13. There are performing arts, sports and after-school programs. Uniform is required.

Scots College
Address: 1 Monorgan Road Strathmore Park 6022 Wellington
Tel: 64 4 388 0850
Tuition Rates: NZ $15,760 - 20,640 per year / Boarding $12,828 - 16,544

Scots College is an IB World School with the IB Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programe and the IB Diploma Programme. The school has boarding facilities and is open to male students only. Uniform is required.

St Mark's Church School
Address: 13 Dufferin Street Basin Reserve 6021 Wellington
Tel: 64 4 385 9489
Tuition Rates: NZ $19,250 - 22,058 per year 

St Mark's Church School is Wellington’s only co-educational IB Primary School. Government House and Wellington College for Boys are direct neighbors. Uniform is required.