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Chilton Saint James School

New Zealand, Lower Hutt

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees NZ$20,655 - 27,274
Ages 2 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 387
Type Co-educational, Girls School
Opened 1918
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum, Cambridge (Secondary)
Taught languages French, Mandarin
Typical class size 24
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Arts and Creative, Community and Service, Leadership and Professional
Stages Preschool, Early Years, Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School
Introduction

Chilton Saint James School sits at 124 Waterloo Road, Lower Hutt, near Wellington, New Zealand. It serves ages 2 to 18. Preschool is co-educational; Years 1–13 are a girls' day school. The private Anglican school offers a bespoke curriculum with Cambridge for secondary. In Years 12–13 students may choose between NCEA and Cambridge pathways, including AS and A Levels under Cambridge. Founded in 1918, the campus blends heritage architecture with modern facilities. On-site amenities include netball and tennis courts, a 25‑metre heated pool, a large sports ground and a covered astroturf area. Middle and Senior School rooms are specialist spaces; Bring Your Own Device covers iPads for Preschool–Year 4 and laptops for Years 4–13. Extracurriculars include Chilton Ballet Academy, Chilton Dance Centre and Chilton Music Academy, with Discover Chilton offering Music, Drama, Dance and Sport. The school provides pastoral and international-student support, including homestay services for families abroad and beyond.

124 Waterloo Road, Hutt Central, Lower Hutt 5010, New Zealand

The Essentials

Chilton Saint James School has 387 pupils, typical class sizes of 24, instruction in English.

Location
The school is located in central Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand, on Waterloo Road. The campus sits among mature trees and blends heritage with modern buildings. It is a short, about 15-minute journey from Wellington, the capital city. The location provides easy access to urban amenities while retaining a campus atmosphere.

Stages
Preschool ECE; Primary School; Middle School; Senior School

Type
Private Anglican independent school. Preschool is co-educational; Years 1 to 13 is a girls' day school.

Additional learning support
Personalised learning programmes are available for students with particular learning needs.

Country affiliation
New Zealand

Religious affiliation
Anglican Church

Bus service
Chilton Saint James is easily accessible by Metlink bus and train. Students from Whitby, Porirua and surrounding areas can access the Wellesley College bus service.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
No boarding; day school.

Uniform Requirement
Uniforms are supplied by NZ Uniforms; purchase in-store at 4 Jackson Street, Petone, or online via chilton.nzuniforms.com. Preschool uniforms include red polo shirt, grey PE tee, grey hoodie, trackpants and red sun hat; Years 1–6 wear formal uniform with blazer, tunic and blouse (with tie on formal days), and Years 7–13 wear blazer with tunic or Chilton trousers, blouse and senior tie; house badges are optional.

Food Options
Lunch is available with a budget of $20–$30; students should bring money for lunch; meals can be purchased within that budget.

House System
There is a house system; House Badges and House Swim Caps are available from the school reception and used for house activities.

Governance and Ownership
Chilton Saint James School is an independent Anglican day school governed by a Board of Trustees; it is affiliated with the Anglican Church; the FitzGerald Foundation funds scholarships and capital projects and supports the school.
Fees

Annual tuition at Chilton Saint James School ranges from NZD 20,655 to NZD 27,274 for 2026/27.

Application and one‑off enrolment fees
- Application fee (non‑refundable): NZD 100.
- Confirmation / enrolment fee (non‑refundable): NZD 500 (payable on acceptance).
- Incidental charges deposit for new students: NZD 115 (held as a deposit for incidental charges).

Preschool fees (2026) — weekly rates
- Ages 0–2 (without 20 hours ECE): All day, full week: NZD 491 per week; Extended day: NZD 592 per week. The following one‑off amounts apply for new preschool students: Application fee (non‑refundable), Confirmation fee (non‑refundable) and Incidental Charges Deposit NZD 115.
- Ages 3–4 (with 20 hours ECE): All day, full week: NZD 371 per week; Extended day: NZD 445 per week. The same one‑off new‑student fees apply.

Primary / Middle / Senior — fees shown per term and calculated per year
(Chilton operates four school terms per year; annual figures below are the per‑term totals multiplied by four).
- Years 0–3 (per term): Tuition NZD 4,756.25; Building Levy NZD 192.50; IT levy NZD 141.25; Campus Revitalisation Levy NZD 89.25. Total per term: NZD 5,179.25. Total per year (four terms): NZD 20,717.00.
- Years 4–6 (per term): Tuition NZD 4,847.50; Building Levy NZD 192.50; IT levy NZD 141.25; Campus Revitalisation Levy NZD 89.25. Total per term: NZD 5,270.50. Total per year (four terms): NZD 21,082.00.
- Years 7–8 (per term): Tuition NZD 5,923.00; Building Levy NZD 192.50; IT levy NZD 141.25; Campus Revitalisation Levy NZD 89.25; Chilton Old Girls' Association NZD 10. Total per term: NZD 6,356.00. Total per year (four terms): NZD 25,424.00.
- Years 9–13 (per term): Tuition NZD 6,385.50; Building Levy NZD 192.50; IT levy NZD 141.25; Campus Revitalisation Levy NZD 89.25; Chilton Old Girls' Association NZD 10. Total per term: NZD 6,818.50. Total per year (four terms): NZD 27,274.00.
- Chilton Ballet Academy (per term): same component breakdown as Years 9–13. Total per term: NZD 6,818.50. Total per year (four terms): NZD 27,274.00.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Standard tuition and levies are quoted and published as per‑term amounts; the school operates four terms per year.
- For international students a full year's tuition is payable in advance (annual billing). International enrolment processing / confirmation fees apply.
- All published fees include Goods & Services Tax (GST).

Boarding / homestay
- The school does not operate on‑site boarding; homestay placement is used for international students. Homestay (45 weeks) is NZD 18,000 (NZD 400 per week) as a separately billed accommodation cost.

International student specific annual charges (example 2025 figures)
- Enrolment processing (enrolment/confirmation) fee: NZD 500.
- Annual tuition (example 2025): Years 1–6 NZD 33,000; Years 7–13 NZD 47,500. Incidentals deposit (international) NZD 2,000. Health and travel insurance estimated ~NZD 650 per year. These international figures are published as annual charges and are billed separately from homestay.

Other charges or typical additional costs
- Uniform: approximately NZD 1,500 (plus sporting clothes and equipment).
- Cambridge examination fees (where applicable): up to approximately NZD 800.
- After‑School Care: NZD 7.50 per half hour; charges are payable at the end of each term.
- Holiday programme: NZD 60 per day or NZD 270 per week (refunds not given for non‑attendance).
- Stationery: weekly/annual stationery lists are provided; costs are invoiced or purchased separately via listed suppliers.

Refunds and scholarship‑related charge handling
- Application and confirmation/enrolment fees are non‑refundable when stated as non‑refundable; scholarship‑award documentation notes specific acceptance and confirmation payment timings (for example, a NZD 115 acceptance fee for scholarship offers and the NZD 500 confirmation fee required within specified timeframes). Scholarship terms also include clauses requiring reimbursement of scholarship value if a scholar leaves without due cause during the award period.
- Holiday programme fees are explicitly non‑refundable for non‑attendance.

Fee payment options
- International payments may be made by international bank transfer to the school's ANZ account (account name, branch, account number and SWIFT code are published for international transfers).
- Published international documentation shows bank transfer as the method for international student payments; specific domestic payment methods (for example, whether credit card, automatic debit, or direct debit/EFTPOS are accepted for domestic fee accounts) are not itemised on the publicly published fee pages.

Notes on items not publicly detailed
- Detailed domestic invoicing/payment procedures (exact invoicing frequency for domestic families, late‑payment penalties, and the full domestic payment methods list) and a comprehensive general fee refund policy are not explicitly published in the public fee pages reviewed. The school's scholarship and international publications include specific timing and non‑refund statements where relevant.
Academics

Chilton Saint James School teaches Bespoke Curriculum, Cambridge (Secondary) for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum
Senior School offers a challenging and comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare students for Cambridge Assessment International Education or NCEA. In Years 12–13, Chilton uses a dual-pathway model allowing students and their parents to choose between NCEA and Cambridge based on individual needs. Cambridge prepares Year 12 and 13 students for tertiary study with AS and A Levels, while NCEA is nationally and globally recognised and involves earning credits toward the qualification.

Student Teacher Ratio
Class sizes are small. The average class size is approximately eight students for most subjects, while Middle School class sizes are capped at 24.

Higher Education Progression
Cambridge Curriculum explains that the CAIE curriculum prepares students for tertiary study and is recognised by universities worldwide. NCEA is nationally and globally recognised and supports entry to tertiary study; both pathways enable study at New Zealand and overseas universities.

Gifted and Talented
Chilton Saint James School offers scholarships recognising and supporting students with exceptional talents in arts, sports, academic excellence, leadership potential and all-round achievement.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Student wellbeing is prioritized. The school provides access to a psychologist, a physiotherapist and a careers advisor, and a pastoral care system with a senior leadership team, form teachers, deans and a chaplain who work together to support students' wellbeing and development. The approach fosters a holistic, caring environment that supports emotional and social growth.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Personalised learning programmes are available for students with particular learning needs.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
All classroom tuition includes English Language Tuition if required.

Mental Wellbeing
The wellbeing program for senior students is a robust and comprehensive framework, underpinned by professional psychologists. Regular sessions and awareness programs build resilience and coping skills, with a preventative and supportive approach to mental health.

Safeguarding
Chilton Saint James School observes the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students. The Pastoral Care and International Support Team provides comprehensive care, with police vetting of homestay providers and ongoing involvement from the Homestay Manager.
Parent Experience

History
Established in 1918, Chilton Saint James School is an independent school affiliated with the Anglican Church. The school was founded by Geraldine FitzGerald and offers Preschool through Year 13 as a private co-educational Preschool and a girls' day school from Years 1 to 13. The campus sits in central Lower Hutt near Wellington and combines heritage with modern architecture, and includes the Chilton Ballet Academy and Dance School. The Chilton Alumni Association was formed in 1930 and was renamed in 2023 as the Chilton Saint James School Alumni Association. The school is governed by a Board of Trustees and, alongside the FitzGerald Foundation Board, guides the school's direction; the FitzGerald Foundation supports scholarships and capital projects.

Community
The campus is located in central Lower Hutt, with heritage buildings and modern facilities, and the school operates a Chilton Ballet Academy and Dance School. The school welcomes students from all faiths while maintaining Anglican heritage. Chilton Saint James School has active community groups including the Chilton Parents' Association and the Chilton Saint James School Alumni Association (renamed in 2023); events include Saint James Weekend and Saint James Day, with activities such as school tours, a morning tea, an alumni AGM, and a church service. The Alumni Association also supports school life through judging the Primary School Speech Competition and by providing library books each year.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The Chilton Parents' Association is a group of dedicated volunteer parents/caregivers who get together to support the principal, students, board of trustees and teaching staff to achieve their goals. The objectives of the Chilton Parents' Association are: To assist, promote and support the activities and welfare of all people associated with Chilton Saint James. To promote social activity among parents, teachers, staff and students of the school. To raise and delegate funds to support the principal, students, board of trustees and teaching staff. To promote and enhance the interests and reputation of the school. All Chilton parents/caregivers are eligible to join; To join, email pa@chilton.school.nz and we will send you further information.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Lower Hutt campus on Waterloo Road is surrounded by trees and gardens, with a 105-year-old main building. Girls study in light, airy classrooms designed to foster creative thinking and motivated learning. On-site netball and tennis courts, a swimming pool and a large sports ground support weekly Physical Education and group activities. A new covered astroturf area provides all-weather facilities. Middle and Senior School rooms are specialist classrooms.

Sports Facilities
On-site netball, tennis courts and a swimming pool are available, with a large sports ground for a range of activities. A new covered astroturf area provides all-weather facilities. Weekly Physical Education is taught by a specialist teacher, and the grounds are used for a variety of group sports and activities.

Academic Facilities
All Middle and Senior School rooms are specialist classrooms. Computer use is integrated across all subjects. Bring Your Own Device is supported with iPads on-site for Preschool through Year 4 and laptops for Years 4–13. Digital devices are embedded in the curriculum to extend learning.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Discover Chilton offers world-class Music, Drama, Dance and Sport coaching programmes through day and after-school programmes. Chilton Dance Centre is a leading private dance school offering after-school training in ballet, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, tap and musical theatre for students from preschool to senior. Chilton Ballet Academy offers a unique programme providing a Year 12 university entrance qualification while training dancers. Chilton Music Academy offers instrumental tuition. The Music and Performing Arts program includes speech, drama and music classes, auditioned and all-comer choirs, orchestras, and ensembles, plus annual House Music competitions. Sport has a strong tradition with many girls participating in one or more sports across seasons.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Chilton Music Academy combines academic studies with musical tuition and offers Cambridge International or NCEA qualifications, with opportunities to work with industry professionals and participate in masterclasses, performances, and ensembles. A dedicated timetable provides music development time alongside core academics, supporting pathways to university entrance and leadership in music. Chilton Ballet Academy balances Chilton education with ballet immersion and follows the Cambridge system to prepare for Cambridge AS qualifications, with an academic half-day aligned with intensive dance training.

Arts & Creative
Chilton Ballet Academy provides full ballet immersion and balances academic study with dance, offering a Year 12 university entrance qualification. Chilton Dance Centre offers classical and contemporary dance training across related styles. The Chilton Music Academy offers a music program that combines academic studies with tuition, ensembles, masterclasses, performance opportunities and opportunities to work with industry professionals.

Cultural & Language
Chilton offers Cambridge International Examinations and the National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA) as part of its international programme. Homestay and welfare services provide a dedicated Homestay Manager and an International Support Team to assist students, with regular meetings and care. The school adheres to the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students.

Social & Hobbies
From camps to enrichment programmes to community service, Chilton students are involved in a wide range of experiences beyond the classroom. These experiences help students explore interests, develop strengths, and engage with peers across activities and cohorts.

Community & Service
Community service is included as part of student life at Chilton, alongside camps and enrichment programmes, reflecting the school's emphasis on social responsibility and holistic development.

Leadership & Professional
Older students mentor younger peers as part of the whānau leadership approach, fostering leadership development across year groups. Senior Leadership includes a Deputy Principal and a Principal, with governance by a Board of Trustees. The Chilton Music Academy provides mentorship by industry professionals and opportunities to develop professional skills in music.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Chilton provides wellbeing support with access to a psychologist, a physiotherapist and a careers advisor. Sport is strong with over 25 sports offered and on-site facilities including a 25-metre heated pool, expansive fields, and indoor and outdoor courts. The holistic education emphasises wellbeing and pastoral care to support students throughout their Chilton experience.
Languages

Language Provision
French, Chinese and Te Reo Maori are taught at Chilton Saint James School. In Middle School (Years 7-10), French, Chinese and Te Reo Maori are offered. In Senior School, Years 9-10 include French, Chinese and Te Reo Maori (all Optional); Years 11-13 include French and Chinese (both Optional).
Admissions

Admissions
1. Book a tour. A tour helps families meet teachers, view classroom programmes, and get to know the campus and its offerings. General tours run Monday to Friday during the school term from 9.00am to 3.30pm. Book a tour to experience Chilton Saint James School in action.

2. Apply now. The school welcomes students at all year levels and enrolment involves a few easy steps. Applications should be submitted well in advance due to high demand for places. All applicants are assessed on an individual basis, and an interview with the Principal is arranged for those selected to progress to the next stage.

3. Fees and one-off payments. All fees include GST. New students pay a one-off non-refundable application fee of $500, a non-refundable confirmation fee of $100, and an incidental charges deposit of $115. Per-term fees are listed by year level, and are subject to annual review.

4. Scholarships. Chilton Saint James School offers a range of scholarships for New Zealand domestic students, and applications are open. Scholarships cover multiple areas and entry points, including academic, sport, music, dance, and ballet academy programmes, with detailed eligibility, testing, and interview requirements. Examples include Academic Scholarships (testing required for Year 7, Year 9, and Years 11–13), Sports Scholarships (Elite Athlete and All-Rounder; require tests and an interview), Music Scholarships (various year levels with auditions and academic testing), Dance Scholarships (Dance Scholarship and Dance Centre Scholarship with auditions and supporting documentation), cba Ballet Academy Scholarships (audition-based; open July), Principal's Scholarship (discretionary; up to 50% of tuition for hardship cases), and Suzanne Duncan Trust Scholarships (St James' Church members).

5. Spend a Day. Spending a day at Chilton is a popular way to decide if the school is a good fit, offering a chance to meet peers and staff, sample programmes, and see the campus firsthand. To arrange, email the Administration Officer with your preferred date.

6. International Students. The school provides Cambridge International Examinations as part of its international programme and supports short and long-term placements across age groups. International students are hosted and supported through a homestay programme. Applications for international study are available year-round via an International Form, with homestay options explained through the admissions channels.

Scholarships
The school offers a range of scholarships for New Zealand domestic students across multiple areas of achievement and performance. Academic Scholarships cover Year 7, Year 9, and Years 11–13 entries and require academic testing, supporting documentation (school reports, CV, extracurricular summary, awards), a reference, and an interview with the Principal and Deputy Principal. Sports Scholarships (Elite Athlete and All-Rounder Athlete) require evidence of sporting excellence, an academic entry test, an interview with the Principal and Director of Sport, and documentation including a recent school report. Music Scholarships span Year 7, Year 9, Year 11, and Years 12–13, and require auditions, academic testing, and documentation (reports, certificates, teacher references). Dance Scholarships include Dance Scholarship and Dance Centre Scholarship (open to Dance Centre members) with academic testing and interviews; applicants must provide dance-related documentation. Ballet Academy (cba) Scholarships are open in July and involve audition, interview, and academic testing; the two-year course aims to balance dance and Cambridge International study. Principal's Scholarship may be offered at the Principal's discretion, can cover up to 50% of tuition, and requires supporting documentation and periodic reapplication every two years. Suzanne Duncan Trust Scholarships are available to Years 7–13 students who are regular members of St James' Church, Lower Hutt.
School Events
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