Annual Review for 2024
Includes Annual Fees Statement for 2025
Celebrating the Triumphs of a World-Class Education
All at Queen Margaret College are delighted to present the Annual Review for 2024, celebrating the remarkable achievements and world-class contributions of our students, staff, parents, and community.
Queen Margaret College opened its doors in 1919 with 53 pupils. This year, we proudly commemorate our 105th anniversary with over 760 students. Reflecting on our history and the values instilled by our Scottish Presbyterian founders, we continue to emphasise the importance of girls’ education.
Today, Queen Margaret College remains committed to delivering a holistic education that emphasises community service and prepares students for the future. Our focus is on equipping students with essential skills such as creativity, emotional and social intelligence, and advanced digital capabilities.
In early 2025 we will be sharing our new 2025 – 2028 Strategy for the college with you, reaffirming our mission to empower every student to live, learn, and lead courageously.
This future-focused strategy addresses shifts in technology, work, education, and leadership, while tackling challenges like gender inequality. Our strategic priorities build on our collective strengths and address our students’ future needs, ensuring every QMC student becomes a resilient, well-rounded life learner and leader.
We invite you to explore this Annual Review for 2024 and join us in celebrating the outstanding accomplishments of our community.
PURPOSE
THE STRATEGIC FUTURE of Queen Margaret College
2019 – 2024
To empower young women to live, learn and lead adventurously VISION 'Live by the light of truth'
Generosity Resilience Respect Integrity Courage
Adventurous Learning
Goal: Excellence in Learning and Wellbeing.
Our People
Goal: Develop our shared understanding of, and commitment to, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and QMC Tikanga in all that we do.
Dynamic Community & Partnerships
Goal: Collaborate and communicate with all members of the QMC community.
Excellence in Operations
Goal: Operational systems safely and effectively support people in the QMC community.
Sustainable Futures
Goal: Cultivate a robust and resilient culture through mindful choices, decisions, and actions.
ANNUAL ACTIONS
▶ Maintain our expectation of depth and breadth of learning.
▶ Continue to develop our proactive approach to wellbeing.
ANNUAL ACTIONS
▶ Develop a strategic plan to demonstrate our commitment to Tiriti o Waitangi and a lived QMC tikanga (in action).
▶ Continue to promote a culture of engagement, inclusivity and belonging.
ANNUAL ACTIONS
▶ Collaborate and communicate in a strategic and purposeful way.
▶ Strengthen reciprocal relationships between teachers and whānau.
ANNUAL ACTIONS
▶ Improve risk literacy throughout the community so that people can make safe decisions, independently.
▶ Strengthen our digital ecosystem and practices.
ANNUAL ACTIONS
▶ Safeguard long-term financial stability.
▶ Invest in facilities and people.
▶ Create a Sustainability Charter.
TE ARONGA RAUTAKI
o Te Kāreti o Kuīni Mākareta 2019 – 2024
ARONGA Whakamanahia ngā taitamāhine kia ako, kia mātātoa, kia noho ora ai
New 2025 – 2028
Strategy to be released in early 2025
WAWATA 'Noho ora ai ki te huarahi o te tika'
WHANONGA PONO Manaakitanga Manawaroa Whakaute Pono Māia
Ako Mātātoa
Whāinga: Kia kounga ai te ako me te hauora.
Ō mātou iwi
Whāinga: Kia whakapiki i tō mātou māramatanga me te ū ki te Tiriti o Waitangi me ngā tikanga o Kuīni Mākareta i roto i ngā āhuatanga katoa.
TUKANGA Ā TAU
▶ Puritia ngā tikanga o te ako kia hohonu, kia whānui ake.
▶ Whakawhanake tonu ngā whakahaerenga e tōtika ana ki ngā āhuatanga hauora.
TUKANGA Ā TAU
▶ Whakawhanake he mahere rautaki ki te whakaatu i a mātou e ū ana ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi me ngā tikanga o Kuīni Mākareta.
▶ Whakatairanga tonu he ahurea e hiwa ana ki ngā kaupapa, e ngākau tūwhera ana ki ngā tangata katoa me he ahurea anō nei he tūrangawaewae.
Hapori hihiri me ngā rangapū
Whāinga: Kia mahi tahi me te kōrero ki ngā mema katoa o te hapori o Kuīni Mākareta.
Ngā mahi whakahaere kia kounga ai
Whāinga: Kia tautoko ngā pūnaha whakahaere i ngā tangata katoa o te hapori o Kuīni Mākareta.
He oranga e toitū ana
Whāinga: Kia tipu i tētahi ahurea pakari rawa, manawaroa hoki i roto i ngā kōwhiringa, ngā whakatau me ngā mahi e mataara ana te hanga.
TUKANGA Ā TAU
▶ Mahi tahi me te kōrero tahi kia rautaki ai te aronga, kia whai take anō hoki.
▶ Whakapiki i te whakawhanaungatanga i waenganui i ngā kaiako me ngā whānau.
TUKANGA Ā TAU
▶ Whakawhanake i te tūraru o te reo matatini puta noa i te hapori kia āhei tētahi ki te whai whakaaro motuhake.
▶ Whakapiki i te pūnaha hauropi me ngā whakaharatau matihiko.
TUKANGA Ā TAU
▶ Tiakina te pūmautanga o te ahumoni.
▶ Haumi i ngā rauemi me ngā tangata.
▶ Hangaia he tūtohinga e toitū ana.
Summary Financial Information 2024
School Roll & Student Profile
QMC students come from diverse backgrounds with a range of life experiences which help to enrich and inform the values, ethics and wellbeing of all members of the school community.
In February 2024, QMC had 744 students enrolled.
As an IB World School we are expanding the perspectives of our students. The curriculum we teach across all year groups promotes multilingualism, intercultural understanding and global engagement.
Student Attendance
Full Day Attendance Rates
Years 1 – 6
Years 7 – 13
Enrolment Growth
2024 Roll
2024 Head Prefect, Charlotte-Jane Mears and Deputy Head Prefect, Divya Srinivasa. 7
Progressive Achievement Tests (PATs)
New Zealand teachers use a variety of tests to determine which academic level students are at, the progress they are making, and where they may need extra help. Progressive Achievement Tests, commonly known as PATs, are one of the main sets of tests schools use.
PATs are multiple-choice tests designed to help teachers determine achievement levels of students in Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, and Listening Comprehension. The test results help teachers decide what kind of teaching materials are needed and which methods or programmes are most suitable for their students. PATs are also important because they identify the progress a student is making from year to year.
We are delighted to share the results of our Mathematics and Literacy for students from Years 3 – 10.
Years 3 – 6 Academic Results
Comprehension
Years 7 – 10 Academic Results
Years 11 – 13 Academic Results
Our students have consistently attained outstanding results across both the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programmes.
Post School Disciplines
Science, medicine and law generated the most interest from the Class of 2023, and there is a balance between specialist and comprehensive (formally ‘generalist’) courses.
Class of 2023 Degree Disciplines
Leavers’ Scholarships
Scholarships provide support and accessibility towards tertiary education and we are delighted 26 students were awarded scholarships toward their 2024 studies.
$422,620
university scholarships
$2,291,289
$2,713,909
scholarships
Preschool Primary Years Programme & Te Whāriki
In our co-educational preschool, we emphasise the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) Curriculum. This helps students develop communication skills, listening and social skills as well as self management through the building blocks for learning.
Years 1 – 6 Primary Years Programme
Swimming: To enhance our personal, social, and physical education curriculum, in 2024 we introduced swimming lessons to ensure all students acquire essential water skills and safety knowledge. These lessons are provided by Easy Swim School with qualified instructors.
School Production: This year’s school production exemplified a transdisciplinary approach to learning. The arts serve as a powerful mode of communication, allowing students to explore and understand themselves and the world. Through the arts, students can express and respond to their experiences, fostering creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, and social interactions.
Arts: The arts in Junior School include dance, drama, music, and visual arts. Each discipline is significant, but their transdisciplinary nature makes them relevant across the curriculum. Dance classes for Years 4 – 6 have been instrumental in developing students’ critical and creative thinking skills and physical abilities.
Years 7 – 10 Middle Years Programme
The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) at QMC helps students integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines to create new understanding. In 2024, students demonstrated this by combining concepts and methods from different fields to explain phenomena, solve problems, create products, and answer questions that wouldn’t have been possible through a single discipline.
Year
7
– Arts (Visual) and Mathematics:
Students explored Pasifika patterns through mathematical principles like symmetry, tessellation, scale, and rotation. They created patterns reflecting Pasifika culture, highlighting the connection between art, cultural identity, and mathematics.
Year 8 – Language, Literature and Sciences:
In the CSI Rangatiratanga unit, students combined forensic science with language and literature to understand communication in solving crime. The unit culminated in a forensic film festival where students showcased their interdisciplinary learning.
Year
9
– Language Acquisition and Design
(Digital): Students created virtual tours of countries where their studied language was spoken, using tools like Minecraft or Scratch. This unit emphasised connections and how pandemic lockdowns reshaped interactions and exploration, enhancing language skills through digital design.
Year
10
– Physical and Health Education,
Individuals and Societies: This unit explored feminism and the evolution of womens’ roles in sports due to political, economic, and social changes. Students analysed gender stereotypes and produced magazine articles to educate and challenge societal norms.
Year 11 – Elevate for Adventurous Learners
In 2024, QMC launched the Elevate Year 11 programme to enhance future-focused and adventurous learning. This programme enables students to achieve a full NCEA Level 1 qualification while preparing for NCEA Level 2 or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). The Elevate Year 11 programme provides a comprehensive and practical education. Here are some highlights from 2024.
Engineering Solutions: “The Engineering Solutions course was really interesting because I am very interested in maths and sciences like physics and this showed me how these skills can be used in real life, which I found to be quite a unique experience that not many other subjects offer.” – Pheobe Kennedy-Smith.
Outdoors for the Soul: “I selected outdoors for the soul because I love nature and being active, and I wanted to try new things and learn new skills. Throughout this course I was put outside of my comfort zone many times, and gave things a go that I wouldn’t normally do.” – Samara Gethen-Jones.
Food for Flatters: “I enjoy Food for Flatters because we learn more than just how to cook. We learn about budgeting, food safety, and nutrition which gives you the confidence to be able to prepare meals that are healthier and enjoyable.” – Samara Gethen-Jones.
Years 1 – 13 Co-Curricular Participation
Our students have access to a first-class co-curricular programme with over 25 sports and varied performing arts, clubs and activities to choose from. Our performance and participation pathway caters for every student’s ability.
Our performing arts opportunities include major productions, house performing arts, choirs, instrumental ensembles, a Māori and Pasifika performance group (Te Whānau o Kuīni Mākareta), Shakespeare festivals, and specialist lessons in instrumental music, singing and speech and drama.
93.7%
92.1% of Junior School students participated in co-curricular activities of Senior School students participated in co-curricular activities
Of the students that participated in co-curricular activities at QMC (across Junior and Senior Schools):
517
334
560 54
141 played sport participated in music participated in Te Whānau o Kuīni Mākareta participated in debating joined clubs participated in speech & drama participated in service
160 140
participated in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DOE) Programme
38
128
participated in the Junior School Cross Curricular Programme
Student Achievements
Music
▶ Voces Luce: Gold Award, Big Sing Finale
▶ Voces Luce: Two Silver Medals, World Choir Games Champions Competition
▶ QMC Orchestra: Gold Award-MEFA
▶ Banditas Band: Gold Award-MEFA
▶ New Zealand Secondary Schools Choir (section leader)
▶ New Zealand Youth Choir
NZ Representatives
▶ 1x NZ Secondary Schools Choir
▶ 1x NZ Youth Choir
Aerobics
▶ 1st – Youth Teams at Regionals
▶ 1st – FISAF Youth Trio at Nationals
▶ 2nd – U16 Division 2
Badminton
▶ 2nd – Junior Girls Division 1
Basketball
▶ 1st – 3x3 Regional Competition
▶ 1st – Wellington Wahine Competition
▶ 2nd – Central Region Championships
Dragon Boating
▶ 3rd – Regional & Nationals
Futsal
▶ 1st equal – College Sport Wellington Champs
Netball
▶ Finalists – Premier Three Netball
Wellington Competition
▶ 1st – Collegiate 1C
▶ 1st – Collegiate 2B
▶ 1st – Collegiate 3B
Drama
▶ Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival: selected for Nationals
Dance
▶ Accepted into Transit Dance, Melbourne
▶ Hip Hop Unite Schools: Regional placegetters
▶ Hip Hop Unite World Championships: Junior Mega Crew
▶ NZAMD scholars nomination: Jazz
▶ Dance NZ Made: qualified for Nationals
▶ PACANZ: nominations in multiple disciplines
Visual Art
▶ 4 x winners – Hyundai Emerging Artist Award
▶ Winner – Te Tai Ohinga Art Competition
Other
▶ 3rd in Semi Finals and 9th in Final, ePro8, Year 9 & 10 Inter-School Regional, Wellington
▶ 2nd – Collegiate
▶ 2nd – Collegiate 2B
▶ 1st – Wellington Regional One competition
▶ 2nd – National Secondary School Champs
Rowing
▶ 1st – North Island Secondary Schools Under 15 Double Sculls
▶ 3rd – North Island Secondary Schools Under 17 Pair
▶ 3rd – Maadi Cup Under 15 Double Sculls
▶ Qualified for numerous A finals
Tennis
▶ 1st – Wellington Regional One Competition
▶ 2nd – National Secondary School Champs
Underwater Hockey
▶ 1st – Wellington Mini-League Competition (Term 1)
▶ 2nd – Wellington Mini-League Competition (Term 2)
Waterpolo
▶ 2nd – Division 2
College Sport Wellington Awards 2024
Winners:
▶ Futsal – Greer Wilson, Year 12
▶ Shooting – Pippa Taylor, Year 11
▶ Tennis – Maria Galatescu, Year 13
▶ Gymnastics – Ava Baddely, Year 12 (Emerging Code Award)
▶ Fencing – Ellen Li, Year 13
Finalists:
▶ Basketball – Nahala Toeleiu, Year 10
▶ Cross Country – Poppy Healy, Year 13
▶ Senior Tennis – Team of the Year
▶ Underwater Hockey – Alice Egerton, Year 12
New Zealand Representatives
▶ 4 x Year 13 – Tennis, Cross Country, Athletics, Football, Fencing
▶ 3 x Year 12 – Gymnastics, Football, Underwater Hockey
▶ 2 x Year 11 – Football, Shooting
▶ 1 x Year 10 – Basketball
New Zealand Title Holders
▶ Skiing – Nikole Kamsaengsai, Year 12
▶ Shooting – Pippa Taylor, Year 11
▶ Swimming – Laila Upton, Year 10
▶ AIMS Games Swimming – Rebecca Yu, Year 8
▶ Tennis – Maria Galatescu, Year 13 – Ranked 295 (International Tennis Federation)
Wellington / Kapiti / Hutt Valley Representatives
▶ 10 x Year 9 – Gymnastics, Aerobics, Cheerleading, Tennis, Athletics, Diving, Cricket, Indoor Cricket, Badminton, Cross Country
▶ 10 x Year 10 – Futsal, Basketball, Cheerleading, Badminton, Netball, Equestrian Eventing, Aerobics, Swimming, Athletics, Hockey
▶ 19 x Year 11 – Aerobics, Surf Life Saving, Rowing, Cricket, Indoor Cricket, Waterpolo, Cross Country, Swimming, Badminton, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Gymnastics, Hockey, Indoor Hockey, Shooting, Futsal, Football, Netball
▶ 17 x Year 12 – Swimming, Gymnastics, Cricket, Indoor Cricket, Surf Boat Rowing, Rowing, Underwater Hockey, Diving, Mountain Biking, Football, Tennis, Aerobics, Touch Rugby, Rugby League, Netball, Football, Futsal
▶ 10 x Netball, Softball, Touch Rugby, Tennis, Cross Country, Athletics, Football, Fencing, Cheerleading, Netball
Generosity a Cornerstone of our Community
As we look towards the future with our Campus Master Plan and scholarship initiatives, during 2024 we called upon our community to be generous, and they responded with enthusiasm. Many have chosen to become QMChampions, donating monthly, while others have contributed through action by hosting stalls at the Open Day Marketplace, with all proceeds going to the Foundation Trust.
The QMC Foundation Trust plays a crucial role in ensuring the College's ongoing financial security. It supports fundraising efforts for buildings and scholarships, enhancing the school's unique character and facilitating the delivery of the highest quality education to our young women, both now and in the future. We take immense pride in the fact that generosity has been at the heart of our community in 2024, with donations to the Foundation Trust increasing significantly. As we continue to develop our campus and offer Scholarships to students, we are confident that the spirit of generosity will only grow stronger.
Become a QMChampion
Campus Master Plan 2025 – 2035
A Legacy of Growth and Modernisation
Since our establishment in 1919, QMC has been committed to expanding and modernising our campus. Recent additions include the Preschool, the Hobson Gym facility, our boarding house – Queen Margaret House, which opened in 2018, and our beautiful new library, inaugurated in October 2024.
The Vision for the Future
To continue our legacy in learning, the Board of Governors is excited to introduce the Campus Master Plan 2025 – 2035, developed in partnership with architectural education experts McIldowie Partners. This plan is critical for our continued success, ensuring we have state-of-the-art facilities to foster excellence among both students and staff.
Over the next 10 to 20 years, we plan to expand and develop our campus in alignment with this Master Plan.
The Master Plan and the spaces it provides will deliver:
▶ Superior learning environments.
▶ World-class cultural activity and performance spaces.
▶ Advanced scientific learning zones.
▶ Optimal environments for wellbeing and social interaction.
The development will be phased, with a focus on maintaining the innovative learning and wellbeing for which QMC is renowned.
We look forward to sharing this exciting journey with you and our wider community.
Core elements and stages of the Master Plan are outlined below.
Creative Industries Centre
Phase 1 of the Master Plan is the foundation for all subsequent developments, focusing on the creation of a Creative Industries Centre. This phase will transform the Old Gym into a vibrant hub for art, design, media, dance, drama, music, and more, fostering student innovation.
FIRST FLOOR
LOWER GROUND FLOOR
Refurbished Craven Building
The refurbished Craven Building will feature purpose-built spaces for learning, including upgraded Science Labs and a terrace, providing staff and students with leading facilities to enhance hands-on scientific exploration.
GROUND FLOOR
The Master Plan is a monumental commitment to creating a first-class learning environment, requiring substantial financial investment. The Foundation Trust will lead our fundraising efforts, relying on the generosity of our whole community to bring these ambitious plans to life. This support is crucial for fostering an environment where our students can excel. We are excited about the future and the steps we are taking to ensure Queen Margaret College remains a place of academic excellence and holistic education. For those interested in learning more or those wishing to offer their support, bequests, or financial donations, please contact foundation@qmc.school.nz
FIRST FLOOR
Social Heart and Wellbeing Centre
Enhancing our wellbeing hub strengthens pastoral care by providing a central space for our staff to deliver integrated student support. Designating specific areas for the QMCafé and creating a dedicated eating space fosters social interaction and supports community events.
Additional Master Plan Stages
▶ Performance space: transforming the main hall to support arts and cultural activities.
▶ Junior School reception: A dedicated, accessible space for our families.
▶ Modernisation across the campus: including quiet study spaces, outdoor social spaces, and staff room refurbishments, to ensure connection, comfort, and efficiency.
GROUND FLOOR
Annual Fees Statement from the Board of Governors
The Board of Governors acknowledges and deeply appreciates your investment and commitment to your daughter’s education.
When setting fees, we carefully consider the impact on fee payers, the operational needs of the college, the economic context of rising costs, and benchmarks against other independent schools. The new fees have been established to ensure that Queen Margaret College can continue to employ educators with unique skills and talents, invest in future-focused technology and provide robust curricular and co-curricular offerings.
Please note that the funding for our Campus Master Plan is not derived from tuition fees.
For 2025, the Board of Governors has set the fees (www.qmc.school.nz/admissions/fees) to ensure that the College continues to provide the best education, enabling our young people to become the best versions of themselves for the future they will enter.
Please find on the following page a breakdown of tuition fees and associated charges for the 2025 school year.
As a registered charity, Queen Margaret College reinvests all income generated from fees each year to maintain the high-quality education of which we are so proud.
It has been our sincere pleasure to witness the successes of 2024 and to help shape the exciting developments ahead. On behalf of the Board, I extend heartfelt thanks to all staff and families for your continued commitment to ensuring the wellbeing and development of our most important asset: our students.
Anna Lillis Chair, Board of Governors
QMC is in the Top 10 New Zealand Schools and is the highest-ranking Wellington School
Annual Fees
Domestic Students
Queen Margaret House (Boarding)
* All fees and costs are quoted in New Zealand Dollars and include GST (Goods and Service Tax) where required. Fees include tuition fees, fees protection insurance* (at 1.98% of tuition fees), technology levy, building levy, and GST. An annual community levy of $260 per family ($65 per term) applies for Preschool to Year 13, this is charged each term and includes fees for the QMC Foundation Trust Annual Giving and Parents’ Association Levy. An additional annual Old Girls’ Association Levy of $50 applies to each student in Years 9 –13, this is also charged each term. International students: English language tuition is included in tuition fees and the regular classroom programme. If additional ESOL tuition is required, it is available at extra cost – estimated at a cost of $3,000 per year. This addition includes regular testing and progress updates, specialist Speech and Drama lessons to improve fluency and confidence, and small classes to cater to individual needs.
ABOUT GIRLS’ SCHOOLS
Students do better academically, socially and emotionally
1 3 5 7 9 2 4 6 8 10
Students feel empowered to defy gender stereotypes
Participation in STEM is higher at girls’ schools
Students are more confident, self-assured and resilient
Students experience less bullying and greater respect
Girls’ schools better prepare students for career and life success
Students in girls’ schools are happier and feel they belong
Students from girls’ schools have higher aspirations and ambitions
There’s higher participation in sport and physical activity
At girls’ schools, student wellbeing comes first