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Fernridge School, Masterton

Contributing · Years 1–6 · Co-Educational · Masterton

A semi-rural primary school located near the Tararua Ranges, it has operated for more than 150 years.

Last checked 16 October 2026 · Roll data from September 2026

At a glance

TypeContributing · Years 1–6
LocationMasterton
RegionWellington Region
School number2843
219
Students
as at September 2026
448
Equity Index
Yes
Enrolment scheme
Open
School status

Key facts

  • School number2843
  • School typeContributing · Years 1–6
  • AuthorityState
  • GenderCo-Educational
  • BoardingNo
  • Language of instructionEnglish medium / other settings
  • Established1 February 1866
See NZ school term dates & holidays →

About Fernridge School

Fernridge School is a semi-rural primary school located near the Tararua Ranges. The school has operated for more than 150 years. The current principal is Amy Williams.

The school places explicit emphasis on Wairarapatanga — a commitment to local Wairarapa identity and community — and frames its approach around three values expressed in te reo Māori: akoranga (learners), he tangata (people), and tūrangawaewae (place and community). The principal identifies as mana whenua of the area.

Enrolment

Enrolment scheme on record

Fernridge School has an enrolment scheme (a home zone) on record. Living inside it guarantees a place; living outside it does not, though out-of-zone applications may still be considered.

School donations

The Ministry of Education profile states that: "Donations should not be requested, unless for a school camp".

With an Equity Index of 448, Fernridge School is in the range eligible to opt into the Ministry's donations scheme — receiving additional government funding per student in exchange for not seeking donations (except for overnight camps).

Check directly with the school for current charges, contributions or other costs. Learn more on the donations scheme or fees and charges at school, both on education.govt.nz.

Equity Index

The Ministry publishes this figure as a bare number — KuraData shows it against the directory-wide average, so you can see where Fernridge School actually sits, not just the number on its own.

OFFICIAL DATA
448
Scale: 344–569
Band: Below Average (2026)
WHAT IT MEANS

The Equity Index estimates the socio-economic barriers students face, on average, and is used to inform government funding and support. It is not a measure of school quality or academic performance.

Higher values indicate a higher level of estimated socio-economic barriers; lower values indicate fewer. Learn how the Equity Index is calculated →

EQI scale (344–569)
Directory avg 445
Fernridge School 448

Student ethnicity

The Ministry publishes this as a raw table — here it's visualised directly against Fernridge School's own roll, so the shape of it is clear at a glance.

  • European — 178 students (81.3%)
  • Asian — 10 students (4.6%)
  • Pacific — 8 students (3.7%)
  • Māori — 93 students (42.5%)
  • Other — 1 students (0.5%)

Percentages may sum to more than 100% because students can identify with more than one ethnic group.

Education pathway

Nearby schools serving the next or previous year levels are shown as potential pathway options. They do not indicate formal enrolment pathways or actual student transfers.

Current stage — Fernridge School
Contributing · Years 1–6
Potential next stage

Location

View larger map on OpenStreetMap
  • Street address264 Upper Plain Road
  • CityMasterton
  • Local authorityMasterton District

Official contact details

Nearby schools

Schools physically closest to Fernridge School, regardless of year level.

Explore schools in Masterton

Browse Masterton schools by type, including primary, intermediate, secondary, composite and other schools.

Contributing schools (3) Full Primary schools (2) Intermediate schools (1) All schools in Masterton →

Frequently asked

These aren't generic answers — each one is built directly from Fernridge School's own official Ministry of Education data already shown on this page, so what you read here always matches the figures above.

Fernridge School is classified as a Contributing school serving Years 1–6.

It's a state school in the Wellington region. New Zealand domestic students are generally entitled to free enrolment and education at state schools.

Yes. It's a co-educational school, enrolling both boys and girls.

Yes. Fernridge School has an enrolment scheme (a home zone) on record. Living inside it guarantees a place; living outside it does not, though out-of-zone applications may still be considered.

219 students, according to the September 2026 roll data.

It reflects the estimated socio-economic barriers Fernridge School's students face, on average. The Ministry uses the Equity Index to help target funding and support. It is not a measure of school quality or academic performance.

Sources & methodology

Every fact on this page traces back to one of the rows below — official Ministry of Education data, or Fernridge School's own published information, reviewed before publication. Nothing here is inferred or estimated beyond what its source actually states.

DataSourceData periodLast checked
School characteristics Ministry of Education — 15 October 2026
Student roll Ministry of Education / Education Counts September 2026 15 October 2026
Equity Index Education Counts — 15 October 2026
Address & coordinates Ministry of Education — 15 October 2026
Contact details NZ Schools Directory Current 15 October 2026
School information (AI-curated, human-reviewed) Fernridge School's official website Current 16 October 2026