The welfare and happiness of international students is our priority
Pastoral Care
A strong commitment to pastoral care throughout the school is part of the special character and philosophy of Marsden. All international students are supported by their:
- Director of International Students
- Dean of International Students
- Form Teacher or Tutor
- Head of School
- Year Level Dean
- Guidance Counsellor
International students meet fortnightly as a group with our Dean of International Students to learn more about integrating into the New Zealand culture and get support for any questions they have about their learning, or life outside of school.
Each student's academic and personal development is monitored by the Dean of International Students and the Pastoral Care system. Regular reports are sent to parents. Where necessary, these can be translated into the student's first language.
Policies
The following policies are available online for international students:
Complaints procedure
Samuel Marsden School is a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021. This Code outlines the standards of pastoral care that schools must provide to international students. For further information visit https://www2.nzqa.govt.nz/international/study-nz-quals/code-international-students/
If you have any concerns or complaints regarding your wellbeing or safety, we encourage you to raise these in the first instance with Marsden’s Director of International Students, who is available to assist you and resolve issues promptly and fairly.
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of this process, you may escalate your complaint as follows:
- New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA):
You may notify NZQA by completing the online webform available on their website. Assistance in completing the form can be provided by their contact centre if required. More information on NZQA’s role and complaints process can be found here. - Study Complaints:
For financial or contractual disputes, or if you seek independent dispute resolution, you may contact Study Complaints, a dispute resolution provider specialising in supporting international students. They can be reached by phone at 0800 00 66 75, or online. Complaints and advice are available via phone, email, post, Facebook and WeChat (search for “NZ iStudent Complaints”).
