St Catherine's Collge is a Catholic Mercy College, which offers an excellent education for girls, following in the sprit and values of Catherine McAuley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy. We are proud of our tradition and aim to provide a quality education for young women to have a lifelong love of learning and the desire and skills to influence others, bridge the gap between young and poor and work for a fair and just society.

Mercy and wisdom: this is the sprit of our College.

Environment

Location: St Catherine's College is nestled in the hills above Kilbirnie with views of Wellington harbour and Cook Strait. This site enables a close relationship with our brother school St Patrick's College, offering a variety of courses and cultural and social events.

Atmosphere: St Catherine's College is a small but very multi-cultural community which enjoys friendliness, warmth and genuine support and encourages every student to participate in the wide variety of opportunities offered. Students' needs and strengths are identified more easily in a small school and our staff work hard to meet the individual needs of all our students.

St Catherine's College is the "biggest little school in Wellington"!

Facilities: St Catherine's College provides excellent, modern facilities and up-to-date computer technology. Our Apple Mac Lab enables senior students to do video-editing and detailed Graphics work for Media Studies. The Library and well-resourced technology suite including up-to-date teaching tecnology in every classroom enable innovative learning for 21st century needs and opportunities.

Academic Programme and Extra-Curricular Programme

Academic opportunities: A wide range of courses is offered including Modern Languages, Business Studies, Technology, Sciences, Mathematics, Social Sciences, Arts and Physical Education.

Language Support: Ongoing ESOL programme is provided in one-to-one and small group learning environments.

Extra-Curricular opportunities: A wide sporting and outdoor education programme is available including netball, waterpolo, basketball, badminton, soccer, tennis, rugby and volleyball. Yr 10 students attend school camp every year and a ski trip is available to all. All students also have the opportunity to participate in drama, choir, barbershop quartet, jazz band, public speaking and cultural performance groups. Music lessons in many musical instruments are available at school.

Student Welfare

Schooling: International students are welcome and valued at St Catherine's College as they increase our multi-cultural diversity, enabling our New Zealand students to understand more of their and others' countries and culture, enlarging our students' horizons and contributing to peaceful international relationships. To ensure quality education and the welfare of our international students is foremost, our International Student Co-ordinator is available at school to deal with the students' needs or school problems. Teaching staff also work hard to meet students' individual academic needs and the school pastoral team as well as School Counsellor are available.

Homestay: Qualified homestay families for the students are selected to ensure that students are safe and cared for while studying in New Zealand. All homestay families are monitored and visited regularly.

Support Programmes: St Catherine's College strives to ensure that international students integrate into the school community and enjoy their school life and also reach out to the community outside school by providing Orientation Programmes, Holiday Excursion, Peer Activities as well as other programmes.

Fees in 2009

Annual fees: Tuition fee is NZ$ 12,000. Admin fee is NZ$ 300. Homestay fee NZ$ 200 per week and Homestay management fee is NZ$ 400.

Additional fees: Medical Insurance (compulsory) per year for NZ$456 if arranged by school. Uniform NZ$ 450-500.

Lead, Care, Inspire at St Catherine's College, Wellington