Type: Day Co-ed

Years: Years 7 to 12 co-ed day school

Roll: 150

Principal: Ms Jenny Williams

Controlling authority: Samuel Marsden Collegiate School Trust Board

Chair: Ms Catherine Savage

Tel: 04 234 1070

Fax: 04 234 6999

Email: whitby@marsden.school.nz

Web: www.marsden.school.nz

Address:

PO Box 58040, Whitby, Porirua City 5024

2 Starboard Lane (off Discovery Drive), Whitby 5245

Foundation

Marsden Whitby is the first independent co-educational secondary school offered in Wellington.  This is a very significant move for Samuel Marsden Collegiate School and an excellent opportunity for Whitby, Hutt Valley, Northern Wellington and Kapiti Coast families to give their boys and girls a Marsden education.  Marsden took over the former Whitby Independent College in the third term of 2005 and the roll has increased from 24 at that time to 150 students today.  Programmes encourage academic excellence, social and technological skills, confidence and leadership ability, spiritual growth, creativity and the enhancement of individual talents as students prepare for success beyond school.

The curriculum

Outstanding teachers encourage students to achieve individual academic excellence across a broad range of disciplines.  The New Zealand National Curriculum and University of Cambridge International courses guide Marsden's programmes of learning.  Language skills, both spoken and written, are given primacy as “language development is essential to intellectual growth”.  Particular attention is paid to encouraging students in the scientific and technological skills and studying the social and physical world in which they live.  Students at Marsden Whitby are encouraged to keep as many career options open as possible by studying a wide range of subjects.

The school

Marsden Whitby is situated in Whitby, a suburb 20 minutes north of Wellington. The college, sited on land formerly used as a golf course, features spacious grounds and a native bush setting.  The buildings have been extensively refurbished and adapted to provide attractive educational facilities including an impressive computer suite, large classrooms, a purpose built cafeteria and playing areas.  A new block of two classrooms and facilities was opened in July 2007.  These physical resources are supplemented by the use of local amenities such as the library, swimming pool and hall.

Sporting and cultural activities

A full-time teacher has responsibility for physical education, sports coordination and health.  The area surrounding Whitby affords many opportunities for students to engage actively in sports and outdoor pursuits.  Currently there are junior and senior netball teams, a boys basketball team, canoe-polo and kayaking.  Theatresports and associated theatre trips are offered and there are debating, creative writing and poetry competitions.  Students participate in online student conferences.  Art club, homework club, robotics, computer club and Whitby Idol talent competition feature.  Students may join the school singing and contemporary music group.

Partnership with parents/caregivers

At Marsden Whitby we believe that student learning is enhanced through a positive partnership with parents, and regular communication between home and school is encouraged.

2010 Fees (inclusive of GST, per annum)