St Mary's College, Wellington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's College |
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Exterior of the Mercy Convent neighbouring St Mary's College
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| Address | |
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Guildford Terrace,
Wellington, New Zealand |
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| Coordinates | 41°16′32″S 174°46′33″E / 41.2756°S 174.7758°E |
| Information | |
| Type | Integrated secondary (year 9–13) single sex, girls |
| Motto | Misericordia et Sapientia (Mercy and Wisdom) |
| Established | 1850; 175 years ago |
| Ministry of Education Institution no. | 286 |
| Principal | Sarah Parkinson |
| School roll | 556 (February 2024) |
| Socio-economic decile | 9Q |
St Mary's College Wellington is a Catholic secondary school for girls in Thorndon, a suburb of Wellington, New Zealand. It is a state-integrated school, which means it is a private school that also gets some government funding. Girls attend from Year 9 to Year 13.
Contents
School History
How St Mary's College Started
St Mary's College is one of New Zealand's oldest schools. It was started in 1850 by Philippe Viard. He was the first Catholic Bishop of Wellington. From 1861, a group of religious women called the "Sisters of Mary" helped run the school.
Land for the School
Part of the land for the school was given by Lord Petre. He was an important person involved with the New Zealand Company. Another part of the land was given by Sir George Grey. He was the Governor of New Zealand at the time.
Changes Over Time
In 1861, the school was taken over by the Sisters of Mercy. They are a group of Catholic sisters who arrived in Wellington that year. When the school first opened, it taught both boys and girls. It also had a place where students could live, called a boarding facility. Today, St Mary's College is only for girls, and it no longer has a boarding facility.
Student Enrolment
Understanding School Fees
As a state-integrated school, St Mary's College asks families to pay "attendance dues." These dues help cover the costs of the school buildings and other big expenses. For the 2025 school year, these dues were $1,147 per student for the whole year.
Student Numbers and Backgrounds
As of August 2025, St Mary's College has 286 students. About 16% of these students identify as Māori. The school uses an Equity Index to understand the different backgrounds of its students. This index helps show if students might face challenges in their learning due to their home situation. St Mary's College is among schools where students have fewer socioeconomic barriers to achievement.
School Buildings
Main Blocks and Their Names
Most of the very first buildings at St Mary's College are no longer there. However, some buildings from the 1900s are still used. One of these is the "Gabriel Block," which is now the school hall. The other two main buildings are called "Carlow" and "McAuley." The McAuley building is named after Sister Catherine McAuley. She used her own money to start the Sisters of Mercy group in Dublin, Ireland.
Ownership and History
The Sisters of Mercy still own the school. St Mary's College calls itself a "Mercy School" because of this connection. Two parts of the school, the Gabriel Hall and St Joseph's Providence Porch, are listed as historic places by Heritage New Zealand. This means they are important parts of New Zealand's history.
Exams and Learning
Like most other schools in New Zealand, students in Years 11 to 13 at St Mary's College take NCEA exams. NCEA stands for National Certificate of Educational Achievement, and it is the main qualification for high school students in New Zealand.
School Characteristics
- Number of Teachers: 33
- International Students: 4
- Ethnic make up of students:
- New Zealand European/Pākehā: 45%
- Pacific: 22%
- Māori: 16%
- Asian: 14%
- Other: 3%
See also
- Sacred Heart Cathedral School, Thorndon
- Sacred Heart Cathedral, Wellington
- St Catherine's College, Wellington
- Sisters of Mercy
- St Mary's Cathedral, Wellington
- St Patrick's College, Silverstream
Notable Former Students
Many successful women have attended St Mary's College. Here are a few:
- Margaret Butler (1883–1947) – a sculptor who created art.
- Oroya Day (1931–2014) – an art historian and community activist.
- Pip Desmond – an author and journalist.
- Maddie Feaunati (born 2002) – an international rugby union player for England and Exeter Chiefs.
- Patricia Grace (born 1937) – a famous writer.
- Ainsleyana Puleiata (born 2000) – an international netball player.
- Katherine Skipper – an architect who designs buildings.
- Saviour Tui (born 2001) – a Netball player who has played for Samoa.
- Beverley Wakem (born 1944) – a former Chief Ombudsman and head of Radio New Zealand.
- Therese Walsh (born 1971) – a chief executive and business leader. She helped organize the 2011 Rugby World Cup and the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
- Joy Watson (1938–2021) – an author who wrote books for children.
- Fran Wilde (born 1948) – a New Zealand politician. She was a Member of Parliament and the first female Mayor of Wellington.
