In recent days, there has been widespread conversation in the media and across the education sector about the New Zealand Government’s proposed changes to NCEA. For many, these announcements have prompted questions about what the future of senior schooling will look like, and what it will mean for our young people.
At St Margaret’s College, these developments are not unexpected, nor are they unfamiliar. In fact, many of the proposed shifts reflect changes we began implementing several years ago. As an independent school with a clear sense of purpose, we have long taken a future-focused and student-centred approach to curriculum design and academic pathways. Our dual offering of both NCEA and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), combined with rich interdisciplinary learning and a strong emphasis on values, ensures our students are well equipped not just to meet standards, but to exceed them.
We know that the world our students are stepping into is changing rapidly, and our responsibility as educators is not to react to change, but to anticipate it.
Our Foundation Diploma, now in its fourth year, is a prime example. Introduced to strengthen academic preparation and student engagement at Year 11, the Diploma draws on the best elements of both the NCEA Level 2 and International Baccalaureate frameworks. It supports the strong foundational literacy and numeracy of our Junior and Middle School programmes, encourages subject depth and sustained effort, and lays a solid platform for success in either of our senior qualification pathways and post-school tertiary education. Our results speak for themselves, with our first cohort to study the Foundation Diploma achieving the highest academic results in Christchurch.
Our programme was designed by our teaching staff to reduce fragmentation in learning and instead offer coherent, full-year courses that promote knowledge-rich learning, reflection and growth across specialist subject areas. Our girls complete internal assessments throughout the year and know that their effort and progress matter right through to the final term. St Margaret’s families can feel proud to be part of a school that has already done the work, quietly and purposefully, to ensure the best outcomes for every girl.
St Margaret’s College continues to be ahead of the curve, creating a learning environment where innovation is underpinned by rigour, and tradition is balanced with transformation. For our families, these proposed national changes are a reminder — and a reassurance — that your daughter’s education is in the hands of a school that doesn’t wait for direction, but leads with intention.
Our vision to grow empathetic, confident, and connected global citizens is not a slogan; it’s the standard by which we measure every programme we design, every decision we make, and every opportunity we offer.
Diana Patchett
Executive Principal
