Boys' boarding school structure (Year 9-13)
Each boys' house can accommodate up to approximately 90 students with each year group in its own dorm area for year levels (Year 9-13). Houses are staffed by a housemaster, deputy housemaster, assistant housemaster, matron and residential assistants. The three boarding houses for boys are called Williams, Sargood and Clark.
The boys dormitories are structured according to their year level:
- Year 9, 10 and 11 share dormitories
- Year 12 boys are in rooms of two students
- 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. All Year 10 boys spend 18 weeks boarding at Tihoi, 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 the start of NCEA study in Year 11.
Girls' boarding school structure (Year 11-13)
The girls’ boarding house, Harington House, is structured to meet the needs of female students and houses 65 girls (increasing to 80 in 2024). Harington is a modern boarding facility with each girl in 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 is provided in the dining hall with the boys.
The HULA experience
All Year 13 boarding girls get to experience HULA, which is short for Harington University Learning Accommodation. The HULA houses are situated adjacent to Harington House and accommodate four Year 13 Harington House boarding students at any one time. Each group of girls live together for about five weeks in a “flatting” situation, which provides a taste of what it is like to live with others in a semi-independent, but monitored, environment.
Girls have their own bedroom and each pair of bedrooms is connected by a shared bathroom. Each HULA residence is fully equipped and the girls are each expected to prepare dinner one night a week, do their own laundry, and keep the facility clean and tidy according to a roster. The aim is to provide a homely environment while providing a degree of independence and accountability.
Dining at St Paul’s
