Kristin School

It all started with a public meeting in 1972 when a small group of families came together with an optimistic shared vision for independent schooling on the North Shore. The closure of St Anne's School in Takapuna had left a vacuum for parents who believed that an independent education would best guarantee that every child's individual talents would be recognised and nurtured.

Within three months the fledgling Kristin School was open for classes with a roll of 42 in Campbells Bay. Within five years this number had grown to 235 and the school moved to Albany. This rapid growth has continued over the years, with classes expanding to cover Kindergarten through to Year 13. In 1990 the roll exceeded 1000 for the first time, reaching a capped height of 1600 in 2006.

From such humble beginnings, with just a handful of small classrooms, Kristin has grown into a North Shore icon, with a state-of-the-art campus featuring modern, innovative learning environments and some of the best sporting facilities in Auckland. Amidst the new modern buildings and beautifully established gardens, those early days are still visible. The Junior School Village pays homage to the many students who have passed through the gates, each with their own story of how Kristin shaped their schooling experience.

Embracing children’s wonder, playfulness and love for learning is paramount as they build a strong sense of who they are and explore the endless opportunities that await them in this ever-changing world.Inspiration for children to share knowledge, ask questions, think critically about their learning, build confidence and develop an understanding of others and the world around them while working constructively

The New Zealand Early Learning Curriculum Te Whariki cleverly interweaved with the inquiry-based International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme.Regular instruction by dedicated specialist teachers in music and movement, performing arts, visual arts, Mandarin Chinese, Te Reo Maori and the Perceptual Motor Programme.

Kristin Kindergarten caters for 4 year olds and supports them on their learning journey through the early years, transitioning seamlessly into Year 0 and Year 1.

Our Kindergarten students enjoy regular specialist instruction in Languages, Music & Movement, Performing and Visual Arts and a Perceptual Motor Program. Visits to the Kristin library and bush add richness to our program. Our highly skilled teachers move to the Junior School with each class, continuing to support the dyadic relationships.

We cater for students from Year 0 through to Year 6, and our teachers have a wealth of experience and knowledge, many of which are specialist subject teachers. We limit our class sizes to give our teachers more one-on-one time with each child, so they can provide students with the support they need and tailor their teaching strategy to get the best outcome for each child.

In the primary years, there is an imperative to stimulate all corners of a child's developing brain. Our Junior School curriculum is rich and varied, ensuring all children experience a breadth of experiences to ignite interest and ensure engagement.

Our Middle School caters to students from age 10-15, covering Year 7-10. Our structure is different to many NZ schools, and we believe there is great benefit in keeping our students together for these four Middle School years. It allows them to develop a better sense of belonging and purpose over these pivotal years of development, it gives them a more solid foundation for Senior School, and also establishes many leadership opportunities.

Engagement and challenge are at the heart of learning in the Middle School. Our IB Middle Years Programme is inquiry based, meaning that every unit of work begins with a question.

For example, "Is Language Power?" With this approach, students immediately understand the relevance of what they are learning and find it more engaging. The curriculum is relevant, challenging, integrative and exploratory. It is also very adaptable so that teachers can differentiate learning to meet the individual needs of each student.

Kristin is able to offer a wide range of sporting opportunities thanks to our many state-of-the-art sporting facilities. These include the Hockey Turf, rugby and football pitches, gymnasiums, climbing wall and the Kristin Lodge.

Kristin's sports fields are maintained to the highest standard, regularly staying open for use throughout the winter when other fields are closed. Because of the high standard of our playing surfaces, Kristin regularly welcomes National and International teams to train onsite and has recently hosted a NZ Football U20 Women's International match between New Zealand and Australia. Kristin has a rugby field, three cricket pitches and several football fields situated inside Gate 2.

Kristin has two purpose built gymnasiums. The Roy Munn Gym is situated in the Junior School and the ‘Old Gym' is just inside Gate 1. Both are fully equipped for Basketball, Badminton and Volleyball. The Roy Munn Gym can be used for Netball.

Our competition sized Hockey turf is located at the rear of the Junior School (access via Gate 1). Fully equipped with stadium lighting this turf incorporates the latest technology; the surface is the best available and has been built to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) performance standards. The facility includes clubrooms and changing rooms.