Frequently Asked Questions

Selwyn House is Christchurch’s only all-girls primary school. It is also an authorised IB World School, delivering the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) from pre-school through Year 8. The school combines small class sizes with specialist teaching in STEM, Science, Mechatronics, Spanish, Music, Performing Arts, Physical Education and Art from Year 1.

The entire school is committed to developing a strong sense of personal self-worth in each girl by immersing them in a safe and nurturing environment. Each girl is inspired to think about the kind of person she wants to be, not just what she wants to do. Girls participate in a daily pastoral care and well­ being programme that is specifically tailored for their age. This programme places an emphasis on each individual girl’s understanding of her own self-worth, whilst being empathetic to the world around them. Each student is also matched with a ‘buddy’ from another year level, which provides an invaluable mentoring relationship.

Our commitment to nurturing and support­ ing our students goes beyond academics. We are dedicated to nurturing their interpersonal skills, honing their ability to navigate social dynamics and cultivate enduring friendships. Through team building, heightened social and cultural awareness, and promoting a robust sense of personal self-worth, we endeavour to equip our students with the essential tools for success in an ever‑changing world.

Year 7 and 8 is a pivotal development stage and success here requires a delicate balance which then goes on to ensure high school readiness and confidence. By anchoring academic rigour and specialised wellbeing within a consistent, tailored environment, we empower all our girls to unlock leadership, embrace agency, and access every opportunity with confidence. 

Academically this stage is a culmination of all their learning and the pinnacle of the IB PYP programme resulting in exhibitions and presentations such as the Science Fair (Ngā Huarahi Pūtaiao), a Year long Passion Project (think business cases) and Space Week modules. It is also a key area of opportunity including in the leadership academy, Senior production, sports and sister school exchanges, camps and international trips and workshops.

We are committed to maintaining small, single-cell class environments. In the Junior School (Years 1 to 3), classes average 12 to 15 students to optimise foundational skill development. In the Middle and Senior schools (Years 4 to 8), class sizes scale from 18-22 appropriately but are strictly capped to ensure every girl receives personalised academic mentoring.

Our belief is that ‘Leaders are Made, Not Born’: In a Year 7–13 secondary school, leadership roles are almost exclusively reserved for Year 12 and 13 students. At Selwyn House, our unique leadership opportunity focuses on 100% participation, every single girl is a school leader. They are taught and mentored in this space that fits their attributes and strengths. Leadership is not just for extroverts and high achievers.

The Structure: Senior students step into two distinct leadership roles per year, backed by staff mentors, community outreach initiatives, and an active Buddy Programme with younger students. This builds immense interpersonal capacity and public speaking confidence.

At Selwyn House, you never have to choose between pastoral care and academic specialisation. Our senior girls experience the absolute best of both worlds. The stabilising presence of a dedicated homeroom teacher is irreplaceable during these formative years. This consistency, paired with their holistic oversight and wraparound support, is precisely what shifts a girl from merely surviving these transitional years to truly thriving.

Independence is growing and peer relationships are shifting. For girls navigating this pivotal developmental stage, success requires a deliberate balance of academic rigour and specialised wellbeing within a tailored environment. At this milestone, many parents wonder: Should our daughter transition to a Year 7–13 high school now, or wait until Year 9?

The research, and our results, say wait.

In Years 7 and 8, she shouldn’t be pushed to the bottom of a large high school hierarchy. In senior years at Selwyn House School, she reaches the pinnacle – where her academic foundation, International Baccalaureate (IB) approach to learning, and emotional growth all beautifully converge.

Our highly collaborative teaching team utilises shared planning, aligned tracking, and data-driven feedback specifically customised for this age bracket. Because our teachers are specialised in the Year 7/8 curriculum, they know exactly how to bridge gaps and accelerate potential without secondary school disruption. Your daughter will build a significantly stronger academic foundation here, making her highly competitive for Year 9 secondary school exams.

Regular feedback from surrounding high schools consistently comments on the high level of preparedness and competency of Selwyn House girls.

In large schools, Year 7 and 8 students frequently compete with senior high schoolers for field space, instruments, theatre access, and teacher attention. At Selwyn House, our seniors get 100% top-tier access to specialised studios, labs, exchanges, camps, productions, and sports teams.

Not necessarily. High schools deliberately reset their social structures in Year 9 because that is when the vast majority of students across New Zealand enter the system. Selwyn House girls enter Year 9 exceptionally well-prepared, highly articulate, and deeply secure in their own identity. They don’t succumb to peer pressure to “fit in”. They naturally attract friends because they are confident and self-assured.

Specialised wellbeing support and consistency at this age is vital to bed in their sense of self, their foundation of confidence. Moving ahead too quickly may seem like an exciting thing to do but we see the results speak for themselves as they enter Year 9 confident and capable for the next five years of their school life.

Selwyn House students are sought after by leading secondary schools and transition to a range throughout the city. Common pathways include Rangi Ruru Girls’ School, St Margaret’s College and Christchurch Girls High School (all girls’ schools in Christchurch), as well as co-educational secondary schools such as St Andrews College. The school supports families through the secondary school selection process during Years 7 and 8.