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Auckland Grammar School

New Zealand, Auckland

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees NZ$26,250
Ages 13 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 2800
Type Boys School, Boys School (boarding)
Opened 1869
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages English, French, Japanese, Spanish, Latin
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Secondary School
Introduction

Auckland Grammar School is a state secondary school for boys in Auckland, New Zealand, serving students aged 13 to 18. It sits on Mountain Road in Epsom and offers a dual academic pathway that combines Cambridge International AS Levels and A Levels with New Zealand's NCEA through a bespoke curriculum. From Form 6, students select either Cambridge or NCEA as a two‑year programme leading to Form 7 examinations and University Entrance; Form 5 provides a Pre-Q bridge to senior Cambridge AS Level and NZQA Level 2 courses. The campus supports rigorous study alongside extensive co‑curricular opportunities. Facilities include a 360‑seat Centennial Theatre (currently closed to external hire), Te Ara Mātauranga library opened in 2024 with substantial print and digital resources, and Computer Suites with high‑speed IT. Sporting facilities cover six grass fields, an all‑weather Hockey Turf, and a Lower Artificial Turf. On‑site Tibbs House provides boarding for select students. The school has a long history dating back to 1850.

Auckland Grammar School, Mountain Road, Epsom, Auckland 1023, New Zealand

The Essentials

Auckland Grammar School has 2,800 pupils, instruction in English.

Location
Auckland Grammar School is located on Mountain Road in Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand. It sits on the northern slopes of Mt Eden in the central Auckland area, near Newmarket. The street address is Mountain Road, Epsom (Auckland 1023). The postal address is Auckland Grammar School, Private Bag 99930, Newmarket, Auckland 1149, New Zealand.

Stages
Year 9–13 (Form 3–7)

Type
State secondary school for boys with boarding facilities (hostel accommodation available for selected students)

Pupil Nationality Mix
International students represent approximately 5% of the annual School roll and come from over 20 countries.

Additional learning support
Learning Support Department provides differentiated support within mainstream classrooms and small-group tuition in literacy and numeracy. The department coordinates Special Assessment Conditions (SAC) for examinations and supports students with learning needs through targeted programs.

Country affiliation
New Zealand

School day structure
7-period day with a 9:00am assembly and a 3:15pm finish for most students. On Tuesdays Form 5 students have an 8-period day finishing at 3:30pm, while other year levels finish at 2:50pm.

Bus service
Auckland Transport provides a regular school bus service that begins after school daily around 3:20pm.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
The school provides Tibbs House boarding. Tibbs House opened in 1962 to enable boys outside the Grammar zone to attend Auckland Grammar School. Tibbs House can accommodate up to 125 boarders from Form 3 to Form 7 and is supported by a dedicated boarding staff and student leaders.

Uniform Requirement
The uniform is compulsory for all students. The official uniform includes navy regulation shorts and a navy regulation shirt with long sleeves, a black leather belt, long plain black socks with garters, black hard leather lace-up shoes, and a navy pullover with two gold bands and the Auckland Grammar lion; brown leather sandals with a back strap may be worn in Terms 1 and 4; Physical Education uniform is required for Forms 3 and 4 and is sold by the School Shop, which is on Floor D of the Main Block and also sells stationery and sports gear.

Food Options
Food options are provided through the on-site tuck shop and School Shop; The 2026 Food and Nutrition Policy states that food served within the School Tuck Shop, Tibbs House, and Staff Common Room cafeteria provides a range of healthy options. Boarders may make or order their lunch, and dinner is served in the Tibbs House Dining Hall from 5:15pm to 5:55pm.

Governance and Ownership
The School is governed by the Auckland Grammar School Headmasters Council, with governance historically anchored by a Board of Trustees. The 2024 Auckland Grammar School Annual Audit notes that The Auckland Grammar Schools Combined Trust has been wound up and assets transferred to the Auckland Grammar School Headmasters Council as at 1 July 2024.
Fees

Annual tuition at Auckland Grammar School ranges from NZD 26,250 for 2026/27.

Application fees

- Tibbs House (boarding) application fee: NZD 50 payable when the Tibbs House application form is submitted.
- International student administration fees: New student administration fee (non‑refundable) NZD 1,000; returning student administration fee (non‑refundable) NZD 700.

Tuition fees by year group and per term

- Domestic (New Zealand/Australian resident) students: there is no tuition charge for domestic students; domestic students are charged for external examination entries only where applicable and asked to pay voluntary school donations and specific course charges.
- International students (all year levels/Forms 3–7): tuition fee NZD 26,250 per year. For budgeting, this equates to NZD 6,562.50 per school term (annual tuition divided across four terms).

Billing schedule and payment terms

- International students receive an Offer of a Place accompanied by an invoice for the annual tuition and any living costs. Fees stated on the Offer must be paid in full to accept the Offer and secure the Confirmation of a Place required for visa purposes. The Offer remains valid for the period stated on the Offer.
- Tibbs House boarding: when an offer of a boarding place is made a deposit (amount set by Tibbs House) must be paid to confirm the place; this deposit is non‑refundable and must be paid within four weeks of the offer. The published annual boarding fee is invoiced in accordance with Tibbs House acceptance terms.
- Domestic charges and voluntary payments (donation, Pre‑Q donation, exam-related charges) are invoiced through the School's usual finance process and may be collected by periodic invoices, Parent Portal billing, or at time of event/course registration as appropriate. Parents are encouraged to use the Parent Portal for payments and invoicing.

Boarding and accommodation fees

- Tibbs House annual boarding fee: NZD 19,500 (published boarding fee).
- Homestay for international students (where applicable): NZD 440 per week (NZD 20,240 based on 46 weeks). Homestay placement and monitoring fee NZD 450 per year; homestay change administration fee NZD 350 per change; homestay holding fee for Christmas closure NZD 350 where applicable; residential monitoring fee (Agent Homestay/Designated Caregiver/Live with Parent) NZD 400 per household.

Other fixed and variable costs

- School uniform (by Form): Form 3 uniform NZD 673; Form 4 uniform NZD 648; Form 5–7 uniform NZD 613. Stationery and art pack (Form 3) NZD 60 (subject dependent).
- Extracurricular activity fee (refundable if unused): NZD 200. School camp fee (Form 4): NZD 695.
- Travel and medical insurance for international students (external provider): NZD 633 per year. Additional stationery and specific uniform items: NZD 100–210 depending on subject. Extracurricular activity costs vary (examples given by the School range NZD 20 up to NZD 4,000 depending on activity).
- External examination fees: NCEA standard examination fee NZD 383.30 per year (where applicable); Cambridge AS/A2 examination fees are charged per subject (example figure shown NZD 210.50 per subject) — domestic students are not invoiced for NCEA external entry in the same way as international students.
- Voluntary School donation: published School donation for 2026 is NZD 1,825 (paid by many families to support additional school services and staff). The School accepts donations and other voluntary contributions via the standard payment methods.

Refund information and fees protection

- International tuition: there is generally no refund of tuition fees except in very exceptional circumstances. If withdrawal occurs prior to arrival in New Zealand, fees paid will be refunded in full minus a NZD 1,000 administration fee. Once a student has arrived and commenced study, no refund is made except where the student is required to return home due to serious illness or the bereavement of an immediate family member; in such cases refunds are calculated according to the Board's procedures addressing costs already incurred. No refunds are made for dismissal due to misconduct, poor attendance, poor performance, withdrawal to transfer schools, visa cancellation, or if the student becomes a permanent resident after enrolment. The School operates a fees protection procedure for international fees paid in advance.
- Homestay fees: homestay fees are refundable in proportion to unused weeks, less two weeks' written notice and less placement/monitoring fees and any other prescribed fees.

Fee payment options

- Parent Portal (online billing and payments) is the School's preferred channel for many routine payments and invoicing. Additional accepted payment methods include:
- Cash, credit card or EFTPOS at the School Finance Office.
- Internet banking to the School account (example banking reference used by the School: 12-3011-0156506-00 with instructions to reference the student's name and form class). Cheques may be sent to Auckland Grammar School (Private Bag address) where required.

Notes on scholarships and fee variations

- Tibbs House offers a small number of boarding scholarships (full or partial) that reduce or cover boarding fees for selected recipients; scholarship availability and application conditions are published by the School. Boarding fees and other charges are reviewed annually and may change in subsequent years.
Academics

Auckland Grammar School teaches Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 13 to 18.

Curriculum
Auckland Grammar School offers a dual qualifications pathway with the New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) and Cambridge International Examinations (AS and A Levels). From Form 6 onwards, students choose either Cambridge or NCEA as a coherent two-year programme leading to Form 7 examinations and University Entrance. Form 5 introduces the Pre-Q programme to bridge the move to senior Cambridge AS Level and NZQA Level 2 courses. Full details of the pathways, progression criteria, subject options and University Entrance are contained in the Course Handbook issued annually. Languages offered include French, Japanese, Spanish and Te Reo Māori. The school operates a seven-period day (eight periods on Tuesdays) and uses GrammarNet as its learning management system; School Examinations are held three times a year to classify students into appropriate classes.

Higher Education Progression
University Entrance is the minimum standard for entry to New Zealand universities and can be gained through either the Cambridge or the NCEA pathway. Admission to many university courses, particularly restricted-entry programmes, depends on achieving higher grades and meeting subject requirements as detailed in the Course Handbook.

Gifted and Talented
New Zealand Scholarships are available for Auckland Grammar School students, with a wide range of options to support tertiary study. Careers and Counselling staff assist students with scholarship questions and applications.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school has a Counselling team with NZAC membership providing a safe, confidential environment for students. The counselling program helps develop skills for living, including problem solving, anger management, decision making, motivation, effective communication, and identity/self-discovery. It offers career guidance and support with issues such as alcohol/drug concerns, stress, relationship difficulties, grief and loss, coping with change, fear and anxiety, and it can arrange contact with outside agencies when necessary. The service includes both individual and group sessions, and the school provides wellbeing resources such as SchoolTV and access to external helplines for additional support as needed.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The Learning Support Department provides an inclusive learning environment and focuses on removing barriers to learning to enable participation, progress and achievement. Needs are identified through standardized assessments, teacher referrals, classroom observations, information from contributing schools and external agencies, and whānau input. Barriers to learning include neurodiversity, organisational and executive functioning challenges, low confidence or engagement, attention and behaviour needs, and gaps in prior learning; interventions are implemented early to address these. Provision includes differentiated support within mainstream classrooms, targeted literacy and numeracy instruction, explicit learning strategies and self-management skills, organisational support, and collaboration with staff to adapt programmes and assessments. The department emphasises student wellbeing and engagement and regularly reviews goals and interventions to ensure effectiveness.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The English Language Department assists students from non-English speaking backgrounds, with specialist staff teaching the English language needed for achievement across all curriculum areas. Senior ESOL classes prepare students to gain NCEA Literacy and University Entrance Literacy, and Forms 6 and 7 offer English courses with support for academic vocabulary development and grammar. Form 4 ESOL continues cross-curricular language support, while Form 5 ESOL focuses on fluency, accuracy, and targeted grammar and vocabulary development to prepare for NCEA English Level 2. The English language learning progression is used to monitor development, and students may continue ESOL into Form 6 or join mainstream English as appropriate; Form 7 ESOL can lead to NCEA Level 3 English or other pathways.

Mental Wellbeing
The Health Centre provides a healthy and safe environment for all students, and the Student Services team offers confidential counselling to support students' wellbeing. The counselling service covers a range of issues including stress, relationships, and personal well-being, with the option to interact with outside agencies when needed. The school provides a range of wellbeing resources and helplines for support outside school hours, and SchoolTV offers additional wellbeing content to assist students and families. Students can access counselling services on a self-referral basis, with staff and parents able to support referrals when appropriate.

Safeguarding
The school has a Child Protection policy approved in 2023 that commits to the well-being and safety of students and provides guidelines for identifying, reporting and responding to child abuse and neglect by staff and contractors. The policy is aligned with the Children's Act 2014 and the Education (Pastoral Care of International Learners) Code of Practice 2021, and applies to staff, volunteers and students. The designated person responsible for overseeing and reviewing child protection policies is the Associate Headmaster – Operations, with responsibilities laid out for the Board and Headmaster to ensure safe practices, confidentiality, and timely reporting. The policy emphasises a culture of reporting concerns, safeguarding rights of families, and ongoing professional development to support child protection responsibilities.
Parent Experience

History
Auckland Grammar School was endowed by Governor Sir George Grey in 1850 to educate all New Zealanders. It opened in 1869 at Howe Street with 78 boys. During the 1880s Depression, girls from the Girls' High School joined Auckland College and Grammar School, and in 1909 Auckland Girls' Grammar School opened, after which Auckland Grammar School became an all-boys school. The Mountain Road site was acquired between 1911 and 1913. During World War I a major building program produced the Spanish Mission-style Main Block and a War Memorial honoring those who served and died in World War I and II.

Community
There are a myriad of opportunities to perform through music and cultural groups, productions and debating. Music Groups and Cultural Groups, Theatresports, and the major School Production (Les Misérables in 2026) are part of the arts program. The Auckland Grammar School Haka was written in the early 2000s by elders of Ngāti Whātua. The Old Boys' Association and the Augusta Fellowship are long‑standing community bodies; the Old Boys' Association celebrated its quasquicentenary (125 years) in 2018, and the Development Office and Foundation Trust support fundraising. The Heritage Room documents the school's history and includes eight wall panels describing the early history.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Auckland Grammar School runs a Parent Portal to give parents access to information about their sons, including attendance, marks and reports. The Portal also enables online payments for the School donation and other fees. The Portal includes an Absence Notification function for day-to-day attendance. The school publishes a 2025/2026 Parents Handbook and Form 3 Parents information to assist families. The Auckland Grammar School Old Boys' Association was founded in 1893 and the Augusta Fellowship is the School's bequest society; governance and fundraising involve these groups and the Development Office rather than a standalone Parent-Teacher Association.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school has a purpose-built Centennial Theatre at the heart of the campus with seating for 360 for performances and events, though it is closed indefinitely for external hire. Te Ara Mātauranga is the School Library opened in March 2024, providing extensive print and digital resources and staffed by professional librarians. Computer Suites offer state-of-the-art technology with on-site IT support, high-speed network access and flexible classroom layouts. The campus includes six grass sports fields (three Rugby, three Football) plus an all-weather Hockey Turf and a lower artificial turf, with two cricket wickets. Tibbs House is the on-site boarding facility and Venturelodge in Ohakune offers accommodation for groups, alongside spaces such as the Old Boys' Pavilion, Hockey Pavilion and the Heritage Room.

Sports Facilities
Auckland Grammar School has six grass fields: three full-sized Rugby fields on the top level and three Football fields on the lower level, with the top-level fields designated for the 1st XV Rugby and Colts Cricket teams and the lower fields for the 1st XI Cricket and Football teams. The all-weather Hockey Turf at the corner of Clive and Normanby Roads is used for practice and games and is also used extensively by outside groups in summer and winter. The Lower Artificial Turf is used for Football, Rugby and Touch Rugby. There are two cricket wickets—one by the Lower Pavilion and the second on the top fields.

Academic Facilities
Te Ara Mātauranga is the School Library opened in March 2024. It supports a rigorous academic education and literacy engagement with over 19,000 resources across fiction, non-fiction, magazines, study guides, ebooks and audiobooks. The library is staffed by three professional librarians and offers 36 desktop computers, two soundproof classrooms with Chromebooks, and two small soundproof collaborative meeting rooms, plus printing, scanning and photocopying facilities. The library subscribes to electronic databases for curriculum use and borrowing terms allow books to be borrowed for 28 days and graphic novels for 14 days. Computer Suites provide state-of-the-art IT technology with dedicated on-site IT support, high-speed internet, secure networks and a Tutor computer connected to projectors and sound systems, with laptop and Mac labs.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Extracurricular activities cover sport, performing arts and culture. A wide range of sports is offered year-round, including archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, cricket, cycling, fencing, football, golf, hockey, rugby, skiing, snowboarding, squash, swimming, table tennis, tennis, touch rugby, volleyball, water polo and more. Performing Arts groups provide tuition and performance opportunities, with major productions, theatre and events such as the Winter Concert Series. Cultural groups include Kapa Haka, Pasifika, Sri Lankan, Korean, Asian and Indian communities. Instrumental and singing lessons are delivered by itinerant teachers for many instruments and there are opportunities to participate in drama, theatre and production. Registration for summer sports and many groups begins in the first weeks of Term 1, with winter sports registrations occurring later in Term 1.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Debating is a prominent extracurricular at Auckland Grammar School. The Auckland Schools Debating Competition is the largest regular debating competition in New Zealand. Chess is offered as a sport within the school's extracurricular program.

Arts & Creative
The Arts and Cultural Activities program provides wide opportunities for music, theatre and performance. Music groups include Big Band, Concert Band, Chamber Music ensembles, Grammarphonics, Grammar Virtuosi, Grammar Voices, Jazz Combo, Pipe Band and Drum Corps, Rock Bands, Symphony Orchestra and Wind Band. Most groups are auditioned and require proficiency, with itinerant lessons available in a wide range of instruments. Dramatic opportunities include Major Productions, Student Run Productions and Theatresports; the 2026 Major Production is Les Misérables, in collaboration with Epsom Girls' Grammar School.

Cultural & Language
Cultural Groups reflect the diverse Grammar community, including Kapa Haka, Pasifika, Sri Lankan, Korean, Asian and Indian groups. Groups showcase heritage through assemblies, cultural evenings and local competitions. The School Haka was written in the early 2000s by elders of Ngāti Whātua. The Arts and Cultural Activities program includes a range of music and drama opportunities and there are myriad opportunities to perform through music and cultural groups, productions and debating.

Social & Hobbies
A wide range of sports is offered year-round, including archery, athletics, chess, cycling, mountain biking, rowing, rugby, hockey, football, cricket, water polo and more. Registration for summer and winter sports is handled in the first weeks of Term 1, with pre-registration for some teams to support planning. In addition to sport, Performing Arts groups and cultural groups provide social and hobby-based activities. Theatresports and Major Productions offer team-based creative activity beyond the classroom.

Community & Service
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is offered at Auckland Grammar School with Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. The Award requires four core sections: Physical Recreation, Skill Development, Voluntary Service, and an Adventurous Journey; at Gold, participants also undertake a Residential Project. The programme is open to Form 4 to Form 7 students. Through participation, students cultivate commitment, self-awareness, initiative, self-confidence, determination and motivation, while developing leadership and teamwork skills.

Leadership & Professional
The school appoints a Prefect Team to help lead the student body, including a Head Prefect, Deputy Head Prefect and Senior Prefects. Senior students serve in a range of leadership roles across school life, including involvement in Interact, MUNA, Grammarphonics, Grammar Voices and Major Production casts. The Prefect Team is complemented by a broad spectrum of student leadership across clubs and committees.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Extracurricular activities are regarded as an important part of a young man's personal development. Facilities are world-class, providing a strong foundation for every boy who wants to immerse themselves in extracurricular activities. Pastoral care and health and well-being support are available to students. Camps provide opportunities to develop leadership and teamwork skills.
Languages

Language Provision
Languages offered at Auckland Grammar School include French, Japanese, Spanish and Te Reo Māori. These languages are taught within the school curriculum. Language study is integrated with other subjects.

Immersion Programs
Short-term international student enrolments have access to a full language immersion and cultural exchange experience.
Admissions

Admissions
International student admissions follow a six-step process. 1) Complete the Application Form. The form is submitted through the online system (enroller.app). An application is a prerequisite for admission but not a guarantee of admission, and the school acknowledges receipt after submission. 2) Attend an Admission Interview. The interview is conducted via WeChat, Zoom, Skype or in‑person and lasts about 15 minutes; it is an opportunity to learn more about the applicant's interests and goals, and for parents to ask questions. 3) Receive an Offer of Place. The Offer specifies the year level and the start and end dates of enrolment and includes the International Student Tuition Agreement and other relevant policies. 4) Accept the Offer. Tuition and homestay fees are paid to the School; the Tuition Agreement, Code of Conduct, Statement of Designated Caregiver Arrangements/ or Homestay Contract, ICT Acceptable Use Policy and Health Record are signed and returned to acknowledge acceptance. 5) Apply for a Student Visa. The student or their representative must apply online for a New Zealand student visa and ensure a valid visa before enrolment. 6) Attend Orientation. The student attends Orientation as part of the enrolment process.

Scholarships
Auckland Grammar School offers four Tibbs House boarding scholarships: Cooper-Connell Boarding Scholarship (for applicants outside the Grammar zone; half boarding at Tibbs House for up to five years, renewable). Sir John Buchanan Boarding Scholarship (for Year 8 entrants; full five-year boarding). Sports Scholarship (for an outstanding sportsman; full or partial Tibbs House boarding). ASAP Finance Pathway Scholarship (for applicants outside the zone with financial hardship and leadership potential; scholarship applications must be posted as a hardcopy form; note that the ASAP Pathway Scholarship is closed for 2027).

Waitlist
Out-of-zone places are allocated by priority groups and then by ballot when there are more applicants than places. The School publishes the likely number of out-of-zone places and the ballot dates each year. In the 2027 Out-of-Zone ballot held on 9 September 2026, all Form 3 priority applicants were offered places; Form 4–7 priority applicants were placed on waitlists, and the School will contact waitlist applicants directly if places become available.
School Events
The school has not added events
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