Queen Margaret College first opened its doors on 19 February 1919 with 53 pupils. Our Scottish Presbyterian founders, The Hon. John Aitken and The Very Rev. Dr. James Gibb had a resolute belief in girls’ education. The College’s original purpose, as stated in its first prospectus, was ‘to provide for girls a sound intellectual and moral education and to build up strong Christian character on a broad religious basis and thus to produce the best type of girlhood and womanhood.
The heritage building which the College currently occupies was designed and erected by T.C.Williams and his wife Anne Beetham as a family homestead in Hobson Street, Thorndon. Scots College was housed in the building from 1916 till 1918 when they moved to Miramar and Queen Margaret College was established.
The International Baccalaureate is an international qualification for students from Preschool through to Year 13. The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is taught in more than 4000 schools worldwide and aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. At the heart of the IB is the “learner profile”, a long-term, holistic vision of education that underpins all three programs and puts the student at the center of everything we do at Queen Margaret College. The learner profile is the IB mission statement translated into a set of learning outcomes. It describes a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success.
The New Zealand early childhood curriculum, Te Whāriki, is delivered by qualified teachers who know how to extend and challenge students, drawing on their interests and recognizing individual strengths and abilities. The daily timetable allows for play-based inquiry as well as teacher-facilitated group times including regular art, gymnasium, and library sessions.
To support Te Whāriki we also deliver the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) for Pre-School. The PYP curriculum framework supports an inquiry-based approach and aligns well with our national curriculum Te Whāriki.
PYP focuses on the holistic growth of the developing child encompassing social, physical, emotional, and cultural needs, in addition to academic development. The program is shaped by the belief that young children are capable learners and are well-positioned to acquire early literacy and numeracy skills and concepts in a stimulating environment. Here you can expect the very best start to education for your child in a well-structured and nurturing setting.
Implementation of our daily program is semi-structured and provides an opportunity for children to investigate, explore and extend their strengths and interests.
The daily timetable allows for play-based inquiry and teacher-facilitated group times. Group learning supports the development of skills and dispositions for a successful transition into primary school. We also have regular art, gymnasium, and library sessions with specialist staff at Queen Margaret College.
Queen Margaret Preschool works with our families to build the foundations of learning before starting school, to help make the right decision for your child’s next steps, and to facilitate the transition process to primary school.
Girls entering the Queen Margaret College Junior School will participate in weekly school visits in the new entrant's classroom. The visits provide a smooth transition from Preschool to Junior School ensuring that when your daughter starts, she already has an excellent relationship with her teacher and classmates.
For children not continuing at Queen Margaret College, our Preschool staff will help facilitate school visits to their new school and provide any information required. Information evenings about transitioning to primary school are available throughout the year at QMC for parents to attend.
“Our Preschool is committed to providing the highest quality education as your child prepares for the transition to primary school and they continue on their lifelong learning journey,” Emily Dominican, Head of Preschool. We are an International Baccalaureate World School authorized to teach the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP). The MYP emphasizes learning, community service, attitude development, and preparation for participation in an increasingly global society.
Building on the skills and knowledge developed through the Primary Years Programme in the Junior School, the program is ideal preparation for the dual qualification pathway offered in the Senior School of either the IB Diploma or NCEA. Students can choose to take different elected subjects, depending on their interests and future goals. We encourage them to think about their education as a whole and transfer their knowledge of one subject to another.
We develop learners who have a growth mindset, empowering them to develop their talents through hard work, good strategies, and effective feedback. Students learn how to learn using communication, research, self-management, collaboration, and critical thinking. Developing these skills helps students meet deadlines, concentrate, bounce back, persist, and think positively. In our rapidly changing world, these are fundamental skills for students to prepare for increasingly complex life and work environments.
The program can be illustrated by the MYP Curriculum Model which has the IB Learner Profile at the center surrounded by the features of the program, its outcomes, and the curriculum students study. This provides a broad and balanced education for early adolescents.
