Auckland Grammar School vs Diocesan School for Girls

	A Auckland Grammar School Auckland, New Zealand	D Diocesan School for Girls Auckland, New Zealand
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year NZ$26,250	Fees / year NZ$22,832 - 53,941
Age range	Age range 13 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Boys School, Boys School (boarding)	Type Girls School, Girls School (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, Bespoke Curriculum	Curriculum IB (DP), IB (MYP), Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 2,800	Pupils 1,700
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 20
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1869	Opened 1903
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	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.	Location The Diocesan School for Girls is located in Epsom, Auckland. The Clyde Street address places it in a residential suburb near the city fringe. Seven buses transport students from across Auckland to the school gates each day, with GPS-tracked routes and a pay-as-you-ride system using student IDs. The campus is accessible to a diverse families via these transport arrangements.
Stages	Stages Year 9–13 (Form 3–7)	Stages Preschool to Year 13; Junior School Preschool - Year 6; Junior High School Years 7-10; Senior High School Years 11-13; Boarding Years 7-13.
School type	School type State secondary school for boys with boarding facilities (hostel accommodation available for selected students)	School type Independent Anglican all-girls day and boarding school
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix International students represent approximately 5% of the annual School roll and come from over 20 countries.	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	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.	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation New Zealand	Country affiliation New Zealand
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation Anglican
School day structure	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.	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details Auckland Transport provides a regular school bus service that begins after school daily around 3:20pm.	Bus service details Seven buses operate daily, transporting over 300 girls from across Auckland to the school gates. Buses are GPS-tracked, reach by 8am, and depart Dio at 3:40pm. Routes include Eastern, Grey Lynn/Herne Bay, Pt Chevalier/Herne Bay, Glendowie/St Heliers, Stonefields, Mt Roskill/Mt Eden, Helensville, Devonport Shuttle and other connections.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details 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.	Fee details Registration and Enrolment Fees - Registration fee: NZD 300.00 (all applications). This fee is non‑refundable. - Enrolment (acceptance) fee: NZD 1,750.00 (all year levels). This fee is additional to tuition and is non‑refundable. Tuition fees by year group (2026 academic year amounts) - Foundation Class (Preschool): NZD 619.89 per week with ECE contribution; NZD 704.89 per week without ECE contribution. For four‑day attendance the published amounts are NZD 478.92 (with ECE) and NZD 563.92 (without ECE). - Junior School (Year 1–Year 6): NZD 26,786.00 per annum; billed as NZD 6,696.50 per term (quarter). - Junior High and Senior High (Year 7–Year 13): NZD 30,916.00 per annum; billed as NZD 7,729.00 per term (quarter). - Building levy (Foundation–Year 13): NZD 800.00 per annum; NZD 200.00 per term. This is charged in addition to tuition. Course / subject fees (per student, where applicable) - Foundation Class: NZD 125.00 per year. - Junior School (Year 1–6): NZD 330.00 per year. - Year 7: NZD 335.00 per year. - Year 8: NZD 330.00 per year (additional NZD 40 for Art Pack if required). - Year 9: NZD 265.00 per year (some subjects such as Material Design, Food Design and Visual Arts carry additional costs). - Year 10: NZD 330.00 per year (additional subject costs apply for certain practical subjects). - Senior High (Years 11–13): Course fees vary by subject and options; individual senior option/course fees apply. Boarding fees - Innes House boarding (Years 9–13): NZD 21,960.00 per annum; NZD 5,490.00 per term (quarter). Boarding is an additional charge to day tuition. Other regular or likely costs (examples and how they are billed) - Incidental and activity charges: stationery, class trips, photographs, laptop charges, sports activities, outdoor education, specialist subject materials, and Parents & Friends Association subscriptions are charged in addition to tuition and are invoiced termly as required. - Uniform and clothing: items are sold through the school shop; typical item prices (guides) include examples such as a school blazer (around NZD 240), Dio hoodie (around NZD 85), house T‑shirt (around NZD 32), swimwear (from about NZD 75–85), and other items. Uniform prices are indicative and subject to change. Uniform purchases and any returns/exchanges are handled through the school shop. - Alumnae Association one‑off fee on entry: NZD 700.00 (non‑refundable). Billing schedule and payment terms - Billing frequency options: quarterly billing (per term), annually in advance, or ten monthly instalments (automatic payments). Accounts are normally paid by direct debit/automatic payment. - Payment methods accepted: direct debit/automatic payment and internet banking (bank transfer). Credit cards and EFTPOS are not available for fee payments. The school provides bank account details for internet banking on account documentation. - Accounts are due on receipt of invoice. Parents are required to maintain current payment arrangements; unpaid accounts may incur collection costs or interest and may result in required withdrawal until fees are brought up to date. Refunds and withdrawal notice (domestic and general rules) - Registration and enrolment (acceptance) fees are non‑refundable. - Notice of withdrawal: a minimum of one term's written notice to the Principal is required to withdraw a student; if proper notice is not given, one term's fees are payable in lieu of notice. Fees remain due even if a student is unable to attend at the start of term for any reason. The Board does not undertake to remit or refund fees in lieu of notice for illness, quarantine, or other causes. - Fee Protection Scheme: on payment of the first term's fees, a Fee Protection Scheme is included which, in cases of the death or terminal illness of a fee‑paying parent or guardian (subject to conditions and age limits), provides for payment of fees for the remainder of the student's education; this scheme does not cover incidental charges and does not apply to international students. Refunds and cancellation rules for international students - International student refund entitlements and procedures differ and are governed by the school's International Student Fees Policy. Refunds for voluntary withdrawal, failure to obtain a visa, or cancellation by the school have specified timeframes and minimum tuition‑fee deductions (for example minimum ten weeks' tuition in some circumstances) and require written notice; detailed conditions and refund calculations are set out in the International Student Fees Policy. Practical notes on invoicing and account administration - Invoices are issued for fees and additional termly incidental charges; the school expects payment arrangements (direct debit/automatic payment) to be in place. Only one invoice is issued per student; if a third party is nominated to pay fees, that person remains additionally responsible unless otherwise agreed. Unpaid accounts may be subject to collection action. Summary of key headline amounts (NZD) - Registration fee: NZD 300.00 (non‑refundable). - Enrolment (acceptance) fee: NZD 1,750.00 (non‑refundable). - Junior School (Y1–Y6): NZD 26,786.00 per annum / NZD 6,696.50 per term. - Year 7–13 (day tuition): NZD 30,916.00 per annum / NZD 7,729.00 per term. - Boarding (Innes House): NZD 21,960.00 per annum / NZD 5,490.00 per term. If you require a compact extract of just the numeric fee lines (for database fields) those figures above correspond to the school's published 2026 fee schedule and the international fee policy for international‑student refund rules.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details 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.	Curriculum details Junior High School follows the New Zealand Curriculum; Senior High School offers two senior qualification pathways: the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) or the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB). In 2025 Year 11 draws on Level 1 NCEA content and the NZ Curriculum to prepare for NCEA Levels 2 and 3 or the IB Diploma, providing a coherent pathway to either qualification.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio Junior High School has small class sizes with low teacher-to-student ratios.
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results In 2024, 98.3% of leavers attained NCEA Level 3 and 97.2% attained University Entrance.
Higher education progression	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.	Higher education progression 100% university entrance in 2025; IB Diploma graduates continue their studies in New Zealand and overseas.
Gifted and talented	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.	Gifted and talented Gifted students have mentoring opportunities, including performance and composition programmes with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, and dance and choreography workshops with the Royal New Zealand Ballet.
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
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.	Admissions 1. Intake years and availability. Main intake years are Preschool, Year 0/1, Year 4, Year 7, Year 9 and Year 11. Availability to admit new students exists throughout the year if vacancies arise. Diocesan can accept students at other year levels when places are available. 2. Apply online and deadlines. Complete the online application form. The closing date for applications is approximately 18 months prior to the entry year; for 2028 intake, it closes on Friday 29 May 2026. The application requires a non-refundable NZ$300 fee and your daughter's NZ birth certificate or NZ passport, or current passport and visa, along with a recent photo and her latest school report. If there are educational assessments, upload these with the application. 3. Documentation and review. Around 18 months ahead of entry, the Admissions Team will request additional supporting documentation. When all requested documentation has been received it will be reviewed by the Senior Academic Team. Timelines depend on the closing date and the volume of applications. 4. Interview. Following the review of your daughter's application and supporting documentation you will be advised if your daughter has been selected for an interview. 5. Offer and enrolment. Students are offered a place formally in writing. You will have a week to accept. When you accept you will be asked to pay a non-refundable enrolment fee of NZ$1,750. This represents your commitment to accepting the place offered to you. 6. Start of process. If you haven't yet applied but are interested, contact Admissions to find out availability. Please read the Selection Criteria for Enrolment and the Terms & Conditions.
Scholarships	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).	Scholarships Diocesan offers an internal scholarship programme that invests in current students by recognising high achievers. Consideration for a scholarship or bursary will also be given to a limited number of students who are new to Diocesan. Sports and Music scholarships are offered from Years 11-13 and will only be made available if there are places in these year levels. Diocesan Alumnae Association bursaries and Buchanan Foundation scholarship are available from Year 7. One Ko Tātou scholarship is offered to a Year 9 student, covering Years 9-13. Applications for 2027 scholarships and bursaries are now closed. Applications for 2028 scholarships and bursaries will open in January 2027. Scholarships at a glance: Sports and Music scholarships have a maximum value of 50% of the tuition fees. The Diocesan Alumnae Association Bursary was established for girls whose Mother or Grandmother is a Diocesan Alumna, with selection criteria including financial circumstances and the Dio Alumna's past involvement in the school, for up to 50% of tuition fees. The Ko Tātou Scholarship was established in 2022 to open the doorway for students to attend Diocesan who would not otherwise be able to. One scholarship is offered each year to a Year 9 student, covering Years 9-13. Scholarships for Boarding: 2028 will be available, with applications opening in 2027.
Waitlist	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.	Waitlist —
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