This year marks 40 years since girls first joined St Paul’s Collegiate School, a transformative moment in its history that has shaped the school’s culture and achievements. From their initial enrolment in 1985 to their vibrant presence today, women have made an indelible impact on the St Paul’s community.

PIONEERING BEGINNINGS:

In 1985, five brave young women—Janet Shewan, Ruth Lee-Smith, Andrea Jenkins, Mary Graham, and Roimata Raumati—arrived as the first full-time female students at St Paul’s. Initially based in temporary quarters, these trailblazers faced the challenge of integrating into an all-boys school. Despite initial skepticism, they quickly proved their worth, participating in sports, cultural activities, and academic life with vigour.

The humorous reflections of those early days are captured in the 1985 yearbook. An editorial described the initial reactions to the arrival of the five girls: “Some looked upon [them] with resentment, some with awe, and others with complete amusement.” The writer continued, “Thankfully, attitudes have matured, and the ignorant realised that girls are perfectly normal, average and largely unspectacular human beings.” This acceptance, the editorial noted, led to healthier competition in classrooms and a cultural boom as the girls contributed to music, dance, and other extracurriculars.

The girls themselves wrote a spirited response, detailing their journey of integration: “Our sudden arrival and high profile threw some boys off balance. We girls penetrated many of their activities, and boys felt threatened by our presence, but again the boys exercised great patience and consideration towards us for which we are eternally grateful.”

Their humour shone through as they recalled challenges such as completing the cross-country race, “Five minutes after everyone else… or was it longer than that?” and their temporary “residence” in the careers room, which they apologised for making “so messy that Mr McMorran surely learnt how untidy girls can be.”

The first girls’ house, affectionately nicknamed “Hill’s Angels” after teacher Malcolm Hill, was officially named Harington House in 1991 to honour Pamela Harington, a devoted trustee. Dr Kay Etheredge, the first housemaster of Harington Boarding House, played a pivotal role in establishing a nurturing yet disciplined environment, pushing for single bedrooms, and fostering a strong sense of belonging through bonding retreats and orientation days.

GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENTS:

The early years saw rapid growth in the number of female students and their influence. By 1992, the school welcomed its first female boarders, and Harington House became a hub of activity and camaraderie. During this period, Harington dominated the House Music competition for four consecutive years and excelled in various cultural and sporting pursuits. Susannah Beehan became the first female dux in 1990, paving the way for many other remarkable achievements by girls at St Paul’s.

The girls were introduced to their own Tihoi experience with a camp at the start of each year which became instrumental in forming friendships with the other new arrivals. 

In 2010, the school expanded to include Year 11 girls, strengthening their contribution to the senior school. In the words of the then Headmaster, Grant Lander, “This year was one with many firsts for our female students: girls in Year 11; our first Head Girl (Alice Fisher); celebrations marking 25 years of girls at St Paul’s.”

Currently, almost 40% of the Years 11-13 cohort are female students, making them a strong force in the school. In 2026, St Paul’s will welcome Year 9 girls, marking another milestone in its history. Headmaster Ben Skeen reinforced the School’s commitment to delivering a character-driven education in an environment that is engaging, challenging, and supportive. “We are proud of our people and our programmes; experiencing a St Paul’s education should not be determined by gender,” he said.

 St Paul’s proudly celebrates the achievements of its 1,637 Collegians, whose contributions continue to inspire and lead across diverse fields.