Principal's Welcome: "Why St Peter's?"

In this village-like campus our young women and young men have everything that they could possibly want in one location.

Welcome,

At St Peter’s, Cambridge we are proud to be one of New Zealand’s leading independent schools offering quality education from Years 7 to 13. As the principal, I warmly invite you to explore this website, make contact, and come in to experience what St Peter’s can offer your child.

A strong sense of community is part of what makes us unique. As a day and boarding school, St Peter’s is a home away from home for over a thousand students who either live locally or come from across the country and around the world. My wife Yevette, daughter Zoe and I live on site in this community, and also call it our home.

St Peter’s is an Anglican-affiliated school with over 80 years of heritage. Our traditions are important to us. They form our culture and our values. However, there is a difference between tradition and being old-fashioned. St Peter’s is committed to ensuring that our young people are equipped for 21st century living, with integrated digital technologies and state-of-the-art facilities. We work hard to ensure that our students will be adaptable, empathetic, relational and qualified to meet the demands of the future.

At St Peter’s, your child will benefit from some of the most talented teachers in the country. They are dedicated, hardworking and have a well-earned reputation for taking a personal interest in students that goes beyond teaching the curriculum. Our class sizes on average are small which facilitates this personal touch.

One of the standout elements of St Peter’s is the positive, happy nature of the student body. I believe this is because students feel safe and supported here. Our pastoral care network is extensive and includes house directors, deans, careers advisors, nurses, a psychologist, and a chaplain, all providing support for our students. Student learning is also assisted by one-on-one mentoring and support from tutor group teachers. Diversity is encouraged and celebrated. St Peter’s welcomes international students from countries all over the world, bringing further cultural diversity which enriches our school community.

Teaching and learning at St Peter’s is rich, stimulating, and most importantly, responsive to the needs of our students. We have an exciting range of learning opportunities throughout the school, culminating in a choice of qualifications — either the National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA) or the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB). Both pathways cater for different approaches to learning and both enjoy impressive results.

Whilst we recognise that academic achievement is the most important aspect of education, we have a holistic approach. We encourage our students to take part in the wider life of the school. We have strong sports programmes to meet the needs of elite athletes and those who participate for leisure. We also have outstanding visual and performing arts programmes.

What excites me about this place is that the potential is limitless. We have facilities that are second-to-none in New Zealand and a dedicated, talented staff. Our students have every opportunity – academic, cultural, sporting, spiritual, and in service. As a parent myself, there is no other school I would prefer to send my child to, and my daughter Zoe is enrolled at St Peter’s.

I look forward to welcoming your family in person,

Dale Burden