St Mark’s Church School is a co-educational Independent Anglican Diocesan School with children from Preschool to Year 8. Based in Wellington, we teach the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) and St Mark’s is a registered IB World School.
St Mark’s Church School was first promoted on the initiative of the Reverend Coffey, Vicar of St Mark’s Church, in the 1880s. With the blessing of the Bishop and the backing of the Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Wellington, the School was established by St Mark’s Parish in 1917. Under the skilled leadership of the first Headmistress, Miss Annie Holm, St Mark’s Church Day School opened its doors to 37 pupils on 11 September 1917 and set out on its mission to provide girls and boys with the very best all-round education. An ambitious but fortuitous plan, and the rest, as they say, is history.
St Mark’s has had ten principals who have developed and strengthened the ethos and culture of the school in their unique way. The School has built an enviable reputation for its quality of education, pastoral care, innovation, and excellence. We also boast many talented people, from past and present alumni and friends to staff who have helped this exceptional school evolve.
St Mark’s is a modern and forward-looking school of around 300 students where the traditions of the past meet the modern technologies of today. It is a happy place where dedicated, professional teachers encourage our children to do their best in their academic studies and to enjoy everything that is on offer. There is a vibrant and supportive atmosphere here which makes it easy to share challenges. Boys and girls are encouraged to be ambitious in their goals and to work hard to achieve them however, we make sure there is also plenty of time to play and have fun.
St Mark’s is proudly co-educational and committed to the value and importance of girls and boys learning and working together as they will in their adult lives. Our children come from many cultural and religious backgrounds, forming a very happy, inclusive, and international student community.
We are a World School offering the Primary Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate and, as such, we promote international awareness in our young people with emphasis on the skills, attitudes, and knowledge needed to participate in an increasingly global society.
St Mark’s Preschool is an independent, multicultural, and co-educational Preschool located on the grounds of St Mark’s School at the Basin Reserve. Providing an exemplary early childhood education for children in a vibrant, cheerful, and environmentally mindful setting, our Preschool is made up of two spaces: the Preschool and Foundation classrooms, catering for younger and older children and shared open spaces that allow for flexibility and creativity and the ability to respond to different teaching and learning styles.
Preschool marks the beginning of your child’s educational journey where they develop their love for learning. At St Mark’s Preschool, we believe that children are agents of their learning. The children are actively engaged in our inquiry and learning program. Children have an active voice, responsibility, and stake in the learning environment.
We pride ourselves in providing a safe, inclusive, and collaborative environment where each child’s individuality, innate curiosities, and desire to learn are nurtured.
We believe that children’s success is achieved through collaboration between Preschool and whanau. We value, and are committed to, building positive relationships and partnerships with parents and caregivers. Whanau is valued as an important part of our community and our aim is that together we can support our tamariki to achieve their fullest potentials.
We are delighted you are considering St Mark’s for your International Student, and it would be my pleasure to assist you with all aspects of the enrolment process as well as offering continued support whilst your child is attending our school. St Mark’s is Wellington’s only co-educational Primary School for girls and boys, from Preschool (age 2) to Year 8 (age 13). Educating children since 1917, St Mark’s is an Anglican school with a strong sense of family and community. Having recently celebrated our centenary, St Mark’s successfully blends traditional foundations and modern, forward-thinking educational practice.
The International Baccalaureate, Primary Years Programme encourages children to become independent learners. To meet the needs of the fast-paced and ever-changing world that our students will enter, we want our children to have a strong set of problem-solving strategies, the ability to think critically as well as the knowledge and skills to apply to new and unfamiliar tasks. We expect that our students will continue to question throughout their lives and have a strong sense of fairness towards all people. As a result of their learning, we want children to take socially responsible action that has an impact on themselves, their friends, the school, and the community in which they live.
