Exclusive and elusive - the elite private school where hefty fees are just the start

Friday, 8 November 2024

Press project into getting into your desired school.

This is Getting In - a project examining what it takes to get your child into your school of choice in Christchurch. Today we look at one private school where just paying the fees isn’t enough.

Once it was a top private school where you just had to pay the fees and you were in.

Now parents and their children have to go to extraordinary lengths to secure a spot at Christchurch’s St Andrew’s College, with a lengthy waitlist and a requirement for prospective students to submit a video explaining why they would make an ideal pupil.

Oh - and it won’t harm your chances if you happen to play the bagpipes or have practised your ballet pliés.

Prestigious Christchurch private school St Andrew’s College has a waitlist that parents are urged to apply for two years in advance.

For students who are committed to joining the school’s pipe band or ballet academy, parents can get 50% off the fees.

The school has high sporting expectations, and among its elite alumni are All Black Richie Mo’unga, former Mainland Tactix netballer Charlotte Elley, and Black Cap Henry Nicholls. .

But the stringent criteria for accepting students has irked some families, who have been left wondering why they missed out.

Read more from Getting In:

All Black Richie Mo’unga was offered a scholarship to St Andrew’s College, where he played in the first XV for three years.

Zone cheats - how parents fake it to get kids into their desired school

One parent of a rejected applicant claimed the school hand-picks “elite” families rather than sticking to the advertised enrolment criteria that orders submissions by application date.

But rector Christine Leighton said: “The strong interest in enrolments at St Andrew’s College reflects the quality of the teaching and learning programmes, the impressive achievement of our students and the positive school culture.”

Fees for St Andrew’s College - or StAC, as it is known - increased by 9% from 2023 to 2024, now costing $140,000 to cover tuition for the years 9-13.

That bill is little deterrent for many parents attracted to the small class sizes and the latest technology-filled facilities.

Just to apply costs $150. If an offer of enrolment is made, a non-refundable acceptance fee of $500 is invoiced, plus a non-refundable bond of $1000 is credited to future schools fees.

Christine Leighton is the first female rector at St Andrew's College, having been in the position since 2007.

Prospective high school students are expected to make a video submission, introducing themselves to the school.

For those parents who do not want to hedge their bets on a year 9 ballot, the prep school (years 0-8) recommends applying at least two years ahead to avoid disappointment.

However, more often than not the number of applicants for the prep school exceeds the spaces available, which pushes parents to enrol their toddlers at St Andrew’s pre-school, which takes pupils from the age of 2.

Despite the cost, StAC has a waitlist at some year levels, with parents desperate to receive an acceptance letter.

Research by Independent Schools of New Zealand (ISNZ), which represents 52 independent schools around the country, shows that StAC parents choose the school due to its smaller class sizes, quality of teaching staff, high-spec facilities and a focus on academic excellence.

The school consistently has close to 100% of students achieve NCEA Level 3, achieving 98.6% last year.

Parents felt the school prepares students for their future through a focus on technical skills, character development and well-being.

With its proud Scottish Presbyterian heritage, the St Andrew’s Cross and Scottish thistle are intrinsically woven into the fabric of StAC life, the school’s pipe band being the only one in the South Island offering scholarships for bagpipe players.

Getting into St Andrew’s College is increasingly difficult but is still a goal of hundreds of parents for their children.

Leighton said school families contribute to “collective responsibility” and a commitment to upholding the school’s mission and values.

She would not say how many keen families are turned away each year.

One parent shared what she said was a negative experience of StAC’s “enrolment journey”, saying there appeared to be no clear reason why one student gets in and another may miss out.

“The school’s communication, or lack of it, I have found off-putting. Other schools acknowledge the investment we are making into our children.”

She said she had unsuccessfully tried to get her primary school aged children into years 3 and 7 for 2025, after applying over a year ago.

“It seems that only ‘elite’ people get a look-in, you have to push your family name into the school and just grovel and over-compliment how amazing the place is.

“The school philosophy seems to be more about keeping up appearances … they are so in demand they can be arrogant.”

Leighton responded by saying: “It is unfortunate we cannot meet the demand for places. Vacancies at most year levels in the preparatory school only come up if a current student leaves.

“Like all independent schools, we offer places according to our selection criteria, which includes consideration of siblings, children of Old Collegians and the date of application.

“We hope people will understand that with so few places available, many may be disappointed.”

Tomorrow: From Cashmere to Christ’s - a sit-down with Christ College’s new executive principal. Plus, parents compete for Christian education.