St Paul’s Collegiate School is thrilled to announce a significant milestone in its history: starting in 2026, enrolled Year 9 girls will join our school community, with this inaugural cohort continuing into Year 10 in 2027. 

This decision, to begin enrolling female students as members of the School’s two junior year levels, reflects our School Board's belief that the opportunity to experience a St Paul’s education should be available to both young men and women at all levels of their secondary schooling pathway. 

At the School’s 65th Annual Prizegiving on Friday 1 November, School Board Chair Mr Andrew Johnson announced the decision, describing it as being a significant progression in the evolution of the School. In highlighting the fact, he said, “For some time now, the board has discussed how we create the opportunity for girls to enrol in Years 9 and 10 at St Paul’s”. Mr Johnson called the decision both right and timely.

Headmaster, Mr Ben Skeen, noted that the School is proud of its commitment “to delivering learning opportunities for all students that are focused on developing the character of each young person, in environments that are engaging, challenging and supportive”. In reflecting on the imminent change Mr Skeen identified how the stewardship of the School’s past leaders and staff has positioned the School with a clear sense of identity and a defined style of education that is well supported by its community. In addressing the School community at its Annual Prizegiving he emphasised, “We are proud of our people and our programmes; experiencing a St Paul’s education should not be determined by gender.”

In detailing several of the operational changes that will occur as junior girls are welcomed into the St Paul’s community, the Headmaster highlighted that boys and girls will be taught in single-sex classroom environments in both Year 9 and Year 10. He noted this approach provides teaching staff with the opportunity to design courses and content specific to the group they have in front of them.

One of the School’s renowned educational experiences, the Tihoi Venture School Year 10 outdoor education programme, will continue to operate as a critical formative experience for all of the School’s Year 10 students. The new Tihoi programmes will also operate as single-sex learning environments with three intakes per year seeing all junior school students completing an isolated, rural and immersive communal living experience, with outdoor educational adventures and learning amplifying life lessons in character formation, effective communication, independence and interdependence. Headmaster Mr Skeen noted, “It has been energising to witness the enthusiasm, and receive the support, of previous Directors of the Tihoi campus who have viewed the upcoming changes as a chance to maximise the boys' learning experience, while awakening the opportunity for young girls to benefit from the tremendous formative experience the unique setting offers”. Importantly, key aspects of the current Tihoi outdoor experiences, such as activity rotations, house and parent tramps, solo experiences, and end-of-programme expeditions, will remain cornerstones of future programmes. 

From 1959 to 1984, St Paul’s operated as an all-boys school, before enrolling female students into sixth and seventh form from 1985. In 2010, the School welcomed Year 11 girls on its Hamilton campus. Currently, 37% of the School’s Years 11-13 cohort are female students. With this change to the School’s enrolment policy, the Board remains committed to continuing to deliver on an average class size of 20 or less, alongside providing high-quality, personalised pastoral care within a house system that celebrates connection, belonging and healthy competition.

For families interested in enrolling a Year 9 daughter for 2026, enrolments are open from today and initial applications will be reviewed from February 2025. Interviews for applicants with existing affiliations to St Paul’s will take place in March and April 2025. Other potential student enrolment interviews will be available in April and May 2025, subject to availability. Affiliation includes siblings of current students or Collegians; descendants of Collegians (this includes past staff and Board Trustees).

Please note the School will not be enrolling Year 10 girls in 2026 or 2027, and our current Year 11, 12, and 13 arrangements will remain unchanged.

We invite our community to share this exciting news widely.

Read the answers to frequently asked questions here. 

Watch the video from Headmaster Ben Skeen here.