Preparatory School Handbook

Pukapuka Kura Tuatahi

Welcome to the Preparatory School

It is my pleasure to warmly welcome all new families joining St Andrew’s College, and to welcome back those returning to our vibrant Preparatory School community. Whether you are beginning your journey with us or continuing it, I look forward to partnering with you as we nurture and guide your children through these important primary years.

This handbook outlines the key information, expectations, and opportunities that shape life in the Preparatory School. It is designed to support you as parents and caregivers, and to help your child feel confident, prepared, and excited about the year ahead.

Preparatory School Philosophy

In the Preparatory School, our vision is to develop confident, independent, and emotionally intelligent learners who are well prepared for the next stage of their educational journey. We take pride in offering a nurturing, inclusive, and engaging environment where every child is known, valued, and supported to reach their full potential.
Central to our approach is student centred learning, where each child’s unique strengths, interests, and next learning steps guide their progress. Our teachers build strong relationships with their learners, using high quality, research informed practice to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. We encourage children to think for themselves, embrace challenge, and grow the personal qualities that underpin strong character.

Diversity in every classroom strengthens our community. Learning alongside peers with different abilities, backgrounds, perspectives, and learning styles helps children develop empathy, flexibility, and a deeper understanding of themselves and others. Our co educational setting also allows boys and girls to collaborate, learn, and thrive together in ways that reflect the world they are growing into.

We nurture the whole child academically, socially, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Our broad curriculum, rich co curricular opportunities, and strong pastoral systems ensure that every learner has opportunities to engage, grow, and achieve excellence across all domains of school life. Through meaningful challenge and guided support, children build confidence, resilience, and the dispositions that will serve them well into the future.

At the heart of our philosophy are the St Andrew’s College values of Truth (Pono), Excellence (Kairangi), Faith (Whakapono), Creativity (Auahatanga), and Inclusivity (Kanorau). These values guide our daily interactions, shape our classroom culture, and help our young people develop into thoughtful, responsible citizens.

As part of this journey, we support students to StAC UP. This involves stepping up, showing up, and actively living out our values in the way they learn, relate to others, and contribute to our community. StAC UP provides a shared language and expectation for positive behaviour, responsibility, and personal integrity, ensuring that each child understands what it means to contribute positively as a member of our St Andrew’s College whānau.

I am excited for the year ahead and look forward to working closely with you and your children. Together, we will ensure that the Preparatory School is a place where every child belongs, grows, flourishes, and enjoys their journey of learning.

Leigh Fowler
Principal of Preparatory School