Key facts
- School number4138
- School typeFull Primary · Years 1–8
- AuthorityPrivate : Fully Registered
- GenderGirls School
- BoardingYes
- Language of instructionEnglish medium / other settings
- Established26 January 1929
About Selwyn House School
Selwyn House School was founded in 1929 and is located at 122 Merivale Lane, Christchurch. It operates as an independent school comprising two parts: a co-educational pre-school for children aged 2.5 to 5 years, and a Year 1–8 girls' primary school.
The school is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, delivering the Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), which frames learning around inquiry, critical thinking, and international-mindedness.
The school's motto — Ko Au, Ka Taea, Me Mahi, Ka Mahia ("I am, I can, I ought, I will") — has been in use since the school's establishment. Four stated values underpin the school's approach: curious, courageous, resilient, and inspirational. The school's stated vision is "Thriving Today, Changing Tomorrow."
The school maintains an Archives Office dedicated to preserving its institutional history, and an alumni and community network that connects past students, current and former parents, and friends of the school.
Enrolment
No enrolment scheme listedNo enrolment scheme is currently listed for Selwyn House School in the available Ministry of Education data. Check the current Ministry of Education information or contact the school for the latest enrolment arrangements.
Student ethnicity
The Ministry publishes this as a raw table — here it's visualised directly against Selwyn House School's own roll, so the shape of it is clear at a glance.
- European — 233 students (76.1%)
- Asian — 73 students (23.9%)
- Pacific — 4 students (1.3%)
- Māori — 8 students (2.6%)
- MELAA — 8 students (2.6%)
- Other — 3 students (1%)
- International — 2 students (0.7%)
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.
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Catholic Cathedral College Secondary · Years 7–15 · 3 km
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Te Kura Tuarua o Horomaka Hillmorton High School Secondary · Years 7–15 · 5.2 km
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Marian College Secondary · Years 9–15 · 3.6 km
-
Cashmere High School Secondary · Years 9–15 · 5.3 km
Location
- Street address122 Merivale Lane
- SuburbMerivale
- CityChristchurch
- Local authorityChristchurch City
Official contact details
- ContactJulie Calder
- Phone+64 3 355 7299
- Emailoffice@selhouse.school.nz
- Websitewww.selwynhouse.school.nz
Nearby schools
Schools physically closest to Selwyn House School, regardless of year level.
-
The Cathedral Grammar School Full Primary · Years 1–8 · 1.3 km
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Paparoa Street School Contributing · Years 1–6 · 1.9 km
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Catholic Cathedral College Secondary · Years 7–15 · 3 km
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Marian College Secondary · Years 9–15 · 3.6 km
-
Hillview Christian School Composite · Years 1–15 · 5 km
Explore schools in Christchurch
Browse Christchurch schools by type, including primary, intermediate, secondary, composite and other schools.
Curriculum
Selwyn House is an authorised IB World School delivering the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) from pre-school through Year 8. No secondary years or NCEA levels are offered.
From Year 1, specialist teaching is provided across the following subjects:
- STEM
- Science
- Mechatronics
- Spanish
- Music
- Performing Arts
- Physical Education
- Art
At Years 7 and 8, the IB PYP culminates in project-based assessments including a Science Fair (Ngā Huarahi Pūtaiao), a year-long Passion Project, and Space Week modules.
Facilities
Selwyn House School's on-site facilities include specialist spaces for a range of curriculum and co-curricular activities:
- Indoor Swimming Pool — a heated indoor pool used for swimming lessons from Pre-school age to Year 8
- Astroturf Fields & Courts — a multi-purpose astroturf field and outdoor courts for basketball, hockey, netball, and tennis
- Technology Hub & Mechatronics — dedicated STEAM, Science, and Mechatronics classrooms
- Food Technology Room — a purpose-built classroom for primary-age students
- Visual Art Room — includes a kiln and printing press
- Library — multi-purpose space with areas for presentations and private study; the collection includes both print and electronic publications
- The Carolyn Fletcher Performing Arts Centre — a purpose-built building with a music classroom, practice rooms for itinerant lessons, and staging for productions, concerts, and award ceremonies
- Spanish language classroom — a dedicated room for Spanish language instruction
- Music — a dedicated music classroom with private spaces for itinerant lessons
- Outdoor Playground — available to all year levels
- Co-educational Pre-school — for children aged 2.5 to 5 years
Frequently asked
These aren't generic answers — each one is built directly from Selwyn House School's own official Ministry of Education data already shown on this page, so what you read here always matches the figures above.
Sources & methodology
Every fact on this page traces back to one of the rows below — official Ministry of Education data, or Selwyn House School's own published information, reviewed before publication. Nothing here is inferred or estimated beyond what its source actually states.
| Data | Source | Data period | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| School characteristics | Ministry of Education | — | 7 September 2026 |
| Student roll | Ministry of Education / Education Counts | August 2026 | 7 September 2026 |
| Equity Index | Education Counts | — | 7 September 2026 |
| Address & coordinates | Ministry of Education | — | 7 September 2026 |
| Contact details | NZ Schools Directory | Current | 7 September 2026 |
| School information (AI-curated, human-reviewed) | Selwyn House School's official website | Current | 18 September 2026 |