Established in 1953, the college is semi co-educational, with a single-gender Middle College for Years 7 and 8, single-gender core subjects for Years 9 and 10, and a co-educational Senior College for Years 11 to 13.[2]
In 2003, the college introduced girls into the school for the first time with 140 female students known as the 'Foundation Girls'.[3] As of 15 May 2025, 1,113 girls and 1,678 boys are enrolled with the numbers of both increasing slightly each year since 2020.[4]
Saint Kentigern College is an IB World School, offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme for Year 12 and 13 students. The Saint Kentigern Trust Board approved the IB programme in late 2006, and it was first offered in 2009.[5]
Saint Kentigern College Executive Head Warren Peat left at the end of 2008 to become headmaster of John Paul College, near Brisbane, Australia. Stephen Cole then took up the role of headmaster.[8][9] Cole left Saint Kentigern at the end of Term 1, 2017, and the position of Head of College was then disestablished and replaced with separate positions for Principal of Middle College (Years 7–10) and Principal of Senior College (Years 11–13). At the same time, a new role as Head of Saint Kentigern was created, with former headmaster of Rangitoto College David Hodge taking up the position.[10]
In 2019, the Saint Kentigern Trust Board decided to amend the separate middle college and senior college model, returning to a single college structure. Russell Brooke, formerly the principal of ACG Parnell College, was appointed as the new principal of Saint Kentigern College.[11] Brooke resigned in October 2021, following a period of unexplained leave which had been in effect from August 2021.[12] Subsequently, Duncan McQueen assumed the role of acting principal until Damon Emtage joined Saint Kentigern College as principal in January 2023. Emtage had previously worked in several independent schools in Australia, including Brisbane Grammar School and Wesley College Melbourne.[13]
In 2019, the college sold its girls' school and preschool campus to Auckland Hebrew Congregation. The congregation and Kadimah School, a Jewish day school, now occupy the campus.[14][15] Saint Kentigern Girls' School resumed operations at a newly constructed facility on Shore Road in Remuera in 2022.[16]
On 23 November 2023, the college received a bomb threat that resulted in the school's early closure at 11:30am. Bomb threats were made to 15 other organisations.[17]
School structure
Students are allocated into one of six houses and compete throughout the year in house competitions. Each house is named after a Scottish Presbyterian church martyr, as follows:
The 1st XV were the previous holders of the Moascar Cup. First in 1981 from defeating Wesley, and again in 1999 when they defeated the then World champion, Kelston Boys, by 18–14. Other notable years include 1996, 1998 and 2000, where they were Runners up in the 1A competition.[citation needed]
In 2001, the 1st XV surpassed their performance in the previous year's 1A competition and claimed the championship by defeating King's College in the final. The team was relegated from 1A in 2003 but earned promotion back to the premier grade in 2005 after an undefeated season in the 1B competition.[citation needed]
The Saint Kentigern 1st XV won back-to-back 1A titles in 2011 and 2012, secured its first Top 4 National Championship in 2012, and claimed consecutive Co-educational National Titles in 2010 and 2011. As a result of winning the Top 4 National Final, the 2013 1st XV was invited to the Sanix Youth World Invitational Tournament, held in early May, where they defeated Hartpury College to win the world championship title.[23]
The Saint Kentigern 1st XV won their third consecutive Auckland 1A title in 2013 with a last-minute penalty, becoming the first team to achieve a three-peat in the competition. Saint Kentigern later won the Auckland 1A title again in 2015 and 2017. In 2019, the school won the Co-educational division of the National First XV Championship, defeating Feilding High School 29–22.[24]
In 2018, Saint Kentigern's was excluded from the competition due to their recruiting practices by rival schools.[25][26]
Saint Kentigern Old Boys currently playing at Super Rugby level include
In addition, several former students play in the Premiership Rugby in England and in the French rugby competition Top 14. There are also a couple of old boys playing in the National Rugby League, including the 2011 Saint Kentigern's college 1XV captain Albert Vete, and Suliasi Vunivalu who are both in the current Melbourne Storm team. Vunivalu has played 7 tests for the Wallabies and is currently based in France. Vunivalu was dubbed the highest try scorer for the club in 2016.
The 2024 Education Review Office (ERO) report stated that the school had 2,316 students in total, 26 of whom were international. The gender composition was 58% male and 42% female. 68% of students were NZ European, 14% Chinese, 5% Māori and 13% other ethnic groups.[27]
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