Welcome from Executive Principal Garth Wynne
This website is a window into the world of Christ’s College, New Zealand’s best-known and leading school for boys.
Christ's College is an independent boarding and day school, established as part of the original Anglican foundation of Christchurch.
Core Christian virtues guide all that we do and how we act. Honesty, respect, justice and compassion create a caring and supportive environment at College, where boys feel comfortable to be themselves as they strive to reach their potential. Our mission is Each boy at his best.
We have a clear vision at Christ’s College ... To educate boys to be virtuous men who make a positive contribution to society.
Our campus is unique. It is a combination of heritage buildings alongside state-of-the-art modern learning spaces, with facilities at the cutting edge of technological excellence.
However, College’s greatest asset is its talented teaching and support staff, who work to enable boundless opportunities to emerge for the boys. These highly qualified and committed people are supported by forward-thinking governance and a dedicated team of professional administrators. Together, they ensure the school provides every opportunity for our boys to achieve at their best.
Boys with a wide range of abilities are welcome at College. There is consistent emphasis on ambition and achievement at all levels, which ensures our student outcomes are among the very best in New Zealand. We nurture the ambitions of some of the brightest scholars in the land while taking equal pleasure in the outstanding progress made by those who benefit from our learning support programmes. The boys respect each other’s commitment, whether within or outside the classroom. Our natural diversity is a key to our success.
Pastoral support is, in the first instance, provided through our House system. There are 10 Houses at College – three for boarders and seven for dayboys – and each boy is a member of a House. The Houses provide a place for study and relaxation, and are the focus of all internal sporting and cultural activities. Vertical organisation within the Houses provides opportunities for leadership and mentoring, and for friendships to develop across year groups.
Boarding has a significant role within the school. The boarding Houses reflect our strong traditions and provide a sense of belonging and connectedness for all boys. The heart of the school beats around the clock. When classes are over and prep is done, boys can choose from a wide range of co-curricular activities that form part of our unique Boarding Programme. Students also enjoy out-of-hours access to libraries, computer suites, sports facilities and workshops.
Our commitment is to provide opportunities that allow boys to develop the skills and dispositions for success in a complex and ever-changing world.
If you would like to visit Christ’s College, or speak with me or our Admissions Registrar, please feel free to contact us to arrange a personal tour. Email email hidden; JavaScript is required or telephone 03 364 6836.
Welcome from Head Prefect Ed Davidson
The cliches of ‘there’s something for everyone’ and ‘leaving a better person’ are the best ways of describing the Christ’s College experience.
The opportunities that lie behind the College gates are endless and inspiring, ultimately making for both a challenging and fulfilling secondary school journey.
College is renowned for its unique traditions and systems, and rightfully so. An aspect of College life that boys grow to appreciate is the Chapel services and culture. When putting on the black and white blazer and stepping into the Chapel on your first day, it does not take long to realise what a special place it is. When the whole school gathers in the Chapel and shares moments of silence, but also moments of collective singing and celebration, it installs a sense of belonging and brotherhood among all boys. Singing at College not only symbolises togetherness and pursuing our values, but it also translates to other areas of school life where each boy is valued in his quest for his own excellence.
Christ's College is an all-boys academic institution that values classroom learning and individual progress. With small class sizes and excellent teachers, the school provides a more genuine learning environment that fosters strong relationships between students and teachers. Exposure to a diverse curriculum helps students to develop a holistic understanding of themselves and the world around them.
I can vouch for the Old Boys who say ‘the House system is one of College’s biggest strengths’. Why is this? The physical Houses at College offer a haven for the boys to hang out, study, eat, or play games in the courtyard. However, the biggest advantage of being in a House is being part of a group, while simultaneously being appreciated for your own self. In Year 9, you can have an immediate association with all year groups up to Year 13, and with the interhouse competitions, no better camaraderie exists than the one established when boys are supporting each other battling it out on the tennis court, in the House haka competition, or House music.
In addition, College offers outstanding arts programmes that cater to the unique interests of each student. Students can choose from a range of options, including big bands, rock bands, choirs, plays, dance crews, and theatresports teams, all of which are supported by knowledgeable staff. New and niche opportunities surrounding the arts creep into the curriculum every year, with many chances for student-led activities.
The sports programmes at Christ's College are equally diverse, with top-notch coaches and courses that allow players to flourish in their chosen sport. Every boy participates in a sport, ensuring a supportive and inclusive sporting culture. The school's commitment to individualised attention and diverse extracurricular opportunities helps students achieve their full potential in all areas of sport and life.
It is hard to explain the true beauty of what a school like this offers, because it is not the outcome or the accolades you receive along the way, instead it is the feeling you get when you are part of a life-long community, and for that I am extremely grateful. To finish, the one thing I would say to prospective students this year, next year or in the near future is “oh the places you'll go”.