Welcome to the Samuel Marsden Collegiate School website

It is my great pleasure to be communicating with you as Principal of Marsden. 

Please enjoy reading our pages and discovering our unique character and the exceptional, well-rounded education on offer. Hopefully you’ll be inspired to visit us. It’s certainly the best way to experience the Marsden spirit for yourself - and we’d love you to hear directly from our students about their learning experiences. 

At Marsden, we encourage and support every learner in doing their very best in all endeavours, and in preparing them for exciting futures where both their talents and tenacity enables them to flourish and thrive.

What I’ve discovered, is that our current students’ positive views of the school closely echo those expressed by women who have been graduating from the school for 140 years. There is incredible consensus across almost one and a half centuries that a Marsden education has set young women up for success in their time anywhere across the globe, by remaining innovative. This continues to underpin Marsden’s reputation as the leading independent school in Wellington today.

Beyond our students’ positive testimonies, our academic record speaks for itself. Our students’ National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA), results are amongst the best in New Zealand. Our students also excel in sport, music and the performing arts thanks to our exceptional tuition, programmes and facilities. But children and families don’t choose a Marsden school just for its academic reputation or broad ranging co-curricular offerings. They choose it because, at Marsden, students are known, genuinely cared for and given individual attention by dedicated, expert staff in small classes; because the practice of Christian values, kindness and giving make it such a special place to be; because progress in all its forms is acknowledged and celebrated; and because they’re confident they’re being well prepared for life – the world of further study and work they will enter when they graduate.

Marsden families really appreciate the safe contexts and challenging, rigorous 21st century focused learning we provide. Our co-ed Preschool gives girls and boys the best possible start to their learning journey. Then our girls in the Primary and Middle and Senior Schools are given the ideal settings in which to maximise opportunities, express themselves, get plenty of hands-on learning, and aspire to futures worthy of their potential. At Marsden we are delighted to offer local and international parents and students a choice of learning contexts that accommodate a range of preferences.

Weekly Blog

Read my weekly Principal's Blog to the Marsden Community.