
Facilities
Our campus based in Karori is a leafy green oasis that provides an ideal learning environment.
Our belief in providing girls with a broad variety of experiences means that Marsden offers an extensive co-curricular programme.
Marsden has empowered me to believe and give me the skills that I can go into any career I am interested in. The friends and activities here from house events, sports day, school trips, camps etc have made going to school enjoyable. I love the teachers here as they are hard working and generous with their time and support to all students at Marsden. Thank you Marsden!
Madeleine, Y13 2022
Marsden leads the way in Performing Arts activities for our students. From music and drama to debating and performance our programmes are a great platform for building confidence, nurturing creativity and encouraging curiosity in our girls, and are an important part of school and community life. Our Director of Performing Arts and exceptional teaching staff make sure all our girls have the opportunity to experience the power of performance first-hand, through specialist teaching in music, singing, speech and drama.
Playing and enjoying music at Marsden opens the door to a life-long appreciation of the performing arts. We have choirs, orchestras, rock bands, flute ensembles and handbell ringing, as well as the academic Music curriculum which includes our fun and innovative Year 7 Band Programme.
Specialist teachers are available during the school day for students to have private tuition in the instrument of their choice.
Everyone can sing and there are many opportunities for our girls to create lovely vocal harmonies - for fun or in competition. From auditioned choirs to all-comers choirs and rock bands, there's something for all musical tastes.
Marsden's award winning choir, Altissime, performing in 2020
Our Composer-in-Residence programme gives music students the very real opportunity to experience a composer at work. During their residency, the composer takes workshops with the girls and composes a unique piece of music for Marsden.
Throughout the year there are a number of events where our musicians showcase their talents. The Swainson Memorial Competition is a musical highlight where girls compete for the prestigious Nell Clere Music Scholarship and the time-honoured Betty Swainson Award.
We encourage our girls to join the School Production. Performing as a team in front of an audience builds confidence and great camaraderie. Our productions involve scores of students in front of house or backstage - and they love it! For those not seeking the limelight we sometimes offer lighting workshops alongside the school production.
2022 Variety Show
There are opportunities to perform in the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival, Kapa haka, debating, or take Speech and Drama lessons from our specialist tutors.
The annual Performing Arts Awards Evening celebrates and recognises our top performers for their talent and dedication.
For more details contact our Director of Performing Arts, Sarah Wilson who will be happy to help you.
At Samuel Marsden Collegiate School students are encouraged to strive for excellence in their academic, cultural and sporting pursuits; to value creative, innovative and independent thinking and to understand their responsibilities as local and global citizens. We provide an environment where students can choose to take part in a wide range of cultural and performing arts activities.
Jennifer Evans Dance Academy at Samuel Marsden Collegiate School
Marsden is excited to team up with the Jennifer Evans Dance Academy, a boutique Dance Academy with classes in Classical Ballet, Modern Jazz, Tap and Hip-Hop. Ages range from 3.5 years to adults. All classes are conveniently held in the Marsden Studio, 7 days a week. Holiday classes and seminars are also available. For further details contact Jennifer 4762821 or 0276350191 or j.evansdance@gmail.com.
Marsden is recognised both nationally and internationally for our sporting success, and we have one of the highest sports participation rates in the country. Sport is a big part of who we are.
We offer a diverse range of over 20 sports, such as football, cricket, netball, shooting, rowing, hockey, lacrosse and orienteering. There is something to suit every student, whether at a social or highly competitive level. Whichever sport your daughter chooses, we have the team and the resources to make sure she can get out there and achieve her personal best, and younger students with talent often find a place in our top teams. See our Sports website for all our sport information.
Our Director of Sport and specialist coaches and staff play key roles in maintaining exceptional sporting standards and in coaching and mentoring our sportswomen. Our dedicated team of sports staff, top-class facilities and resources ensure all students can reach their potential.
Through playing sport our students learn about sportsmanship, teamwork, resilience, courage and commitment. We expect gracious winners and good losers, and have fun along the way.
You are welcome to chat to our Sports staff about how we can help foster your daughter's sporting interests and help her achieve her goals.
Three annual schoolwide sporting events involve our whole school community - athletics, cross country and swimming. These contests are fierce but fun as students compete individually and for the glory of their House.
Individuals and teams compete locally, around the country and, from time to time, internationally, doing a fantastic job in representing the school and achieving excellent results along the way.
Experts and elite athletes come in to help our sportswomen and their coaches improve essential skills while we support our top athletes as much as we can in their ambitious goals.
We are fortunate to have the energetic support of parents in all our sports. The Friends of Netball, Friends of Hockey and Friends of Rowing are particularly strong social and fundraising groups within the school.
For more details visit our dedicated Marsden Sports website or contact Director of Sport & Active Recreation, Rosie Kirkpatrick, if you have any questions.
In the past decade Marsden students or Old Girls have been World Champions (Mountain running and Yachting), Commonwealth Games representatives (in Swimming and Athletics) and won many New Zealand selections and international medals.
Other clubs at Marsden include: chess, greenies, robotics, Kids Lit, international, science, writers, technical support crew and more.