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New Zealand, Lower Hutt
Let the school know you're thinking of applying — they can share their prerequisites and help you through the process.
It's best to ask — circumstances can change at any time.
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.
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.
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.
