Boarding at St Paul’s

Growth through Sharing

Students tell us we have the balance just right to prepare them for life beyond school in an integrated, challenging, and yet nurturing  and supportive environment.

Boarding at St Paul’s is a highly rewarding experience. Each House has its own character and style, which have evolved over time. The House is the focal point of school life for each of our boarding students.

Selecting the right boarding school for your teenager is an important decision. St Paul’s offers boarding to boys in Years 9 to 13 and girls in Years 11 to 13 at a time when they are exploring their independence, bal-ancing fun with friends and being challenged to perform well in their studies.

Each boys’ House can accommodate approximately 75 students, with boys from all year levels. Each House is staffed by a Housemaster, Assistant Housemaster, Matron and Tutors. Boys in Years 9, 10 and 11 share dormitories in various configurations; Year 12 boys are in rooms of two, and each Year 13 boy has his own room.

The girls’ boarding house, Harington Boarding, is structured to meet the needs of female students. Harington Boarding is a modern boarding facility in which each girl has a single room. There are a number of common rooms where girls can meet socially and relax. Kitchen facilities are available for the girls to use for breakfast and snacks. Lunch and dinner are taken in the School Dining Hall with the boys.

Day and boarding girls combine during the school day to form Harington House, which is based in the Student Centre.

Just over 260 students have St Paul’s as their home as well as their place of learning. Through a residential lifestyle boarders learn to live with others in a tolerant and accepting manner. Friendships develop that often prove to be life-long.

Structured and supervised prep (homework) each evening provides an academic support base, which is often difficult to duplicate at home. Our boarders develop a set of personal life-skills that hold them in good stead for tertiary study and beyond, and helps develop resourceful, self-reliant individuals.

Boarding at St Paul's is a highly rewarding experience. Each House has its own character and style, which has evolved over time. The House is the focal point of school life for our boarding students.

Boys’ boarding: Years 9 to 13

Each boys' House can accommodate up to 75 students, with boys from all year levels. Each House is staffed by a Housemaster, Assistant Housemaster, Matron and Tutors. Boys in Years 9, 10 and 11 share dormitories in various configurations, Year 12 boys are in rooms of two, and Year 13 boys have their own room.

In addition, St Paul’s continues its tradition of managing boys well through their adolescent years to manhood with the integrated Tihoi Venture School Programme. All Year 10 boys spend 18 weeks boarding at the Tihoi Venture School campus, near Taupo. Time at Tihoi provides a challenging environment for physical and personal growth alongside continued study. Boys return to the Hamilton campus well prepared for beginning NCEA study in Year 11. Balancing the “learning through competition” needs of boys early in their secondary school experience, coupled with social and academic integration with girls at senior school level, gives St Paul’s the best of both worlds.

Girls’ boarding: Years 11 to 13

The girls' boarding house, Harington, is structured to meet the needs of  female students. Girls at St Paul's have the opportunity to work and achieve across the various school disciplines, both within their House environment and within the predominantly male student community. The three years at St Paul's are designed to give our girls the confidence and life skills to make an effective transition from school to tertiary education or work and beyond.

Harington is a modern boarding facility in which each girl has a single room. There are a number of common rooms were girls can meet socially and relax. Two kitchens are available for the girls to use for breakfast and snacks. Lunch and dinner are taken in the school dining room with the boys.