St Mark's School (Christchurch)
Full Primary · State : Integrated
- Year levels
- 1–8
- Total roll
- 234
- Enrolment zone
- Yes
- Gender
- Co-Educational
Where is it, and how do I get in touch?
- Address
- Cholmondeley Avenue, Opawa, Christchurch
- Territorial authority
- Christchurch City
- Phone
- 03-3327339
- office@saintmarks.school.nz
- Directions
- Get directions
Other schools nearby: schools in Christchurch · schools in Canterbury
Can my child go here?
This school has an enrolment scheme, so a place is not open to every address. How enrolment zones work
This school has an enrolment zone, but Ministry of Education has not published a mapped boundary we could load for it. Contact the school directly to check your address.
What would the day look like?
The practical things this school states on its own website — the hours, the uniform, the term dates, and how children get there. These are the school’s own words, not the Ministry’s record and not ERO’s.
Quoted from this school’s own website, as we read it on 13 August 2026. A web page carries no date of its own, so that is the day we read it — not a statement that any of this is still the case. Each line quotes the words it came from.
- Uniform
Not stated on the school’s website.
- Where to buy the uniform
- https://www.mainlanduniforms.nz
All new uniform items are available from Mainland Uniforms, either in-store at 549 Colombo Street Street or online at [Mainland Uniforms](https://www.mainlanduniforms.nz.)
- https://www.mainlanduniforms.nz
What does the school say about itself?
Quoted, not summarised. Every school describes itself well, so this is here to be read as the school’s own case rather than as a finding — and a school that states nothing simply has no row.
Quoted from this school’s own website, as we read it on 13 August 2026. A web page carries no date of its own, so that is the day we read it — not a statement that any of this is still the case. Each line quotes the words it came from.
- Special character
- The Board of Proprietors makes St Mark’s School available to provide education with an Anglican special character.
- This Anglican special character is the reason why St Mark’s School was established, and is the purpose for which the school continues to exist.
What is on offer beyond the classroom?
The sports, arts, clubs and groups this school names on its own website. Not a complete list of what any school offers, and not a count — a school that names more here has written more down, which is not the same as doing more.
Quoted from this school’s own website, as we read it on 13 August 2026. A web page carries no date of its own, so that is the day we read it — not a statement that any of this is still the case. Each line quotes the words it came from.
- On offer
- school productions
Our school productions are one of the most popular aspects of St Mark's School student life.
- The Performance Choir
The Performance Choir, Years 6-8 students, lead the singing in our Church services every Friday at St Mark’s Church.
- Christchurch Primary Schools’ Music Festival
Every alternate year, students from Years 6-8 learn and practice the Christchurch Primary Schools’ Music Festival repertoire as part of the school’s music programme.
- choir
This choir is for any Year 4 or 5 student who enjoys singing.
- Piano (Yrs 0-8)
Tuition is currently available in: Piano (Yrs 0-8), Violin (Yrs 0-8), Singing (Yrs 0-8), Ukulele (Yrs 0-3), Guitar (Yrs 3-8) and Drums (Yrs 3-8).
- Violin (Yrs 0-8)
Tuition is currently available in: Piano (Yrs 0-8), Violin (Yrs 0-8), Singing (Yrs 0-8), Ukulele (Yrs 0-3), Guitar (Yrs 3-8) and Drums (Yrs 3-8).
- Singing (Yrs 0-8)
Tuition is currently available in: Piano (Yrs 0-8), Violin (Yrs 0-8), Singing (Yrs 0-8), Ukulele (Yrs 0-3), Guitar (Yrs 3-8) and Drums (Yrs 3-8).
- Ukulele (Yrs 0-3)
Tuition is currently available in: Piano (Yrs 0-8), Violin (Yrs 0-8), Singing (Yrs 0-8), Ukulele (Yrs 0-3), Guitar (Yrs 3-8) and Drums (Yrs 3-8).
- Guitar (Yrs 3-8)
Tuition is currently available in: Piano (Yrs 0-8), Violin (Yrs 0-8), Singing (Yrs 0-8), Ukulele (Yrs 0-3), Guitar (Yrs 3-8) and Drums (Yrs 3-8).
- Drums (Yrs 3-8)
Tuition is currently available in: Piano (Yrs 0-8), Violin (Yrs 0-8), Singing (Yrs 0-8), Ukulele (Yrs 0-3), Guitar (Yrs 3-8) and Drums (Yrs 3-8).
- CSM Outreach Band Programme
This year, we are delighted to become part of the CSM Outreach Band Programme.
- softball
Other, one-off opportunities with visiting coaches include sports such as softball, cricket and touch rugby.
- cricket
Other, one-off opportunities with visiting coaches include sports such as softball, cricket and touch rugby.
- touch rugby
Other, one-off opportunities with visiting coaches include sports such as softball, cricket and touch rugby.
- school productions
Who goes here?
Ethnicity breakdown of the total roll, shown as context. Not ranked, and not compared against any average.
- European
- 207
- Māori
- 25
- Pacific
- 9
- Asian
- 22
- MELAA
- 10
- Other
- 0
- International
- 0
Roll by year level and age
Shown as context, not ranked, not compared to any average. As at 30 June 2026, from the same annual return as the roll count above.
| Māori | Pacific | Asian | MELAA | Other | European/ Pākehā | International students | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 01 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 20 |
| Year 02 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 29 |
| Year 03 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 26 |
| Year 04 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 25 |
| Year 05 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 32 |
| Year 06 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 31 |
| Year 07 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 43 |
| Year 08 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 27 |
| Total | 31 | 9 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 206 | 0 | 233 |
| Māori | Pacific | Asian | MELAA | Other | European/ Pākehā | International students | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 05 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 19 |
| Age 06 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 27 |
| Age 07 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 26 |
| Age 08 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 26 |
| Age 09 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 30 |
| Age 10 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 34 |
| Age 11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 31 |
| Age 12 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 32 |
| Age 13 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 8 |
| Total | 31 | 9 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 206 | 0 | 233 |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0
Student engagement
Age-standardised stand-down rate per 1,000 students — 2024
0%
| St Mark's School (Christchurch) | 0% |
|---|---|
| Canterbury Region | 38.3% |
| Full Primary | 35.6% |
| State : Integrated | 16.2% |
| New Zealand | 37.1% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 0% |
|---|---|
| Male | 0% |
| Māori | 0% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | 0% |
| European/Pākehā | 0% |
| Total | 0% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison stand-down rates data (2024)
Age-standardised suspension rate per 1,000 students — 2024
0%
| St Mark's School (Christchurch) | 0% |
|---|---|
| Canterbury Region | 3.7% |
| Full Primary | 3.9% |
| State : Integrated | 1.6% |
| New Zealand | 4.1% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 0% |
|---|---|
| Male | 0% |
| Māori | 0% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | 0% |
| European/Pākehā | 0% |
| Total | 0% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison suspension rates data (2024)
Age-standardised exclusion rate per 1,000 students — 2024
0%
| St Mark's School (Christchurch) | 0% |
|---|---|
| Canterbury Region | 1.7% |
| Full Primary | 1.7% |
| State : Integrated | 0.5% |
| New Zealand | 1.8% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 0% |
|---|---|
| Male | 0% |
| Māori | 0% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | 0% |
| European/Pākehā | 0% |
| Total | 0% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison exclusion data (2024)
About the school
- Equity Index (EQI)
- 398
- Boarding
- No
- Language of instruction
- All students taught in English/other setting
- Urban / rural
- Major urban area
- Date opened
- 25 January 1921
The Equity Index is used by the Ministry to allocate equity funding. It describes the socio-economic barriers a school’s students face, not how good the school is. How the Equity Index works
What did ERO find?
The Education Review Office reviews every school and publishes what it finds in full. We quote ERO’s report here, section by section, in ERO’s own words and order, and link to it. We do not summarise a report, pick a line out of one, or turn one into a score. How ERO reviews schools
- Reports ERO holds
- 4
- Last reviewed
- 11 December 2023
- Latest report
- Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report
- Report type
- Profile report
- Board assurance
- The board attested to all areas (11 December 2023)
A board assurance statement is the board’s own account of whether it took all reasonable steps to meet its legal obligations, on the date shown. It is not ERO’s finding. ERO reports separately, in the same report, on any non-compliance it identified during that process.
The board assurance report of 11 December 2023 carries no actions-for-compliance section — the section ERO uses when it names non-compliance it identified. That is what this report contains; it is not ERO saying it found none. Other reports ERO holds for this school may say something different.
The roll ERO recorded, and when
ERO writes a roll into each report it publishes: a count taken for that report, on the day shown, by the review team that was there. The Ministry of Education’s current roll for this school is 234 — the figure at the top of this page, and the one to use for how big the school is now. These are a different measurement by a different body, so they will rarely agree, and a difference between them is not a change in the school.
August 2018
241
Counted while ERO’s review team was at the school. Education Review Office, report of 20 September 2018
December 2015
206
Counted while ERO’s review team was at the school. Education Review Office, report of 10 February 2016
We draw no line between these. Each was counted for its own report, years apart, by a different review team, and a roll moves between reviews for reasons none of these figures record — so the difference between any two of them measures nothing.
What ERO wrote in its latest report
This is ERO’s report of 11 December 2023 — “Te Ara Huarau | School Profile Report” — section by section, under ERO’s own headings, in ERO’s own order. Nothing is summarised, shortened or reordered.
Background
This Profile Report was written within twenty months of the Education Review Office and St Mark’s School (Christchurch) working in Te Ara Huarau , an improvement evaluation approach used in most English Medium State and State Integrated Schools. For more information about Te Ara Huarau see ERO’s website. www.ero.govt.nz
Context
St Mark’s School is a special character Anglican primary school for learners in Years 1 to 8. The school’s mission is to transform lives through the St Mark’s story. The school is located in Ōpawa , Christchurch and is a member of Te Mana Raupō Kāhui Ako .
St Mark’s School (Christchurch) ’s strategic priorities for improving outcomes for learners are through:
the Anglican character, so that every student knows and understands the Gospel and outworks their living faith
developing future focused thinkers and learners through ako and collaboration in the pursuit of equity and excellence, to identify and grow every student’s God given gifts and talents
students making a difference in the community through service and leadership.
You can find a copy of the school’s strategic and annual plan on St Mark’s School (Christchurch) ’s website.
ERO and the school are working together to evaluate the impacts of changes to the school’s curriculum and teaching practices on outcomes for students.
The rationale for selecting this evaluation is:
strategic and annual goals highlight an opportunity to further enhance curriculum and grow a common practice model, showing progressive learning from Years 1 to 8
associated professional conversations for teachers focus on exploring effective pedagogies to promote greater student voice and self-assessment and reflection skills
the school’s analysis of data shows that a significant number of students are at or above age-related expectations in reading, writing and mathematics
evidence from the school’s data and research indicates that embedding highly effective literacy strategies will impact all students.
The school expects to see a collaboratively developed, robust, responsive and personalised curriculum that expresses best practice. Students will experience equity and excellence in achievement outcomes. The curriculum will provide guiding exemplars and articulate a progression of teaching and learning expectations from Years 1 – 8. Students’ agency will be purposefully promoted. Teachers will collaborate to discuss the impact of their practices and be adaptive, supporting continued high levels of success.
Strengths
The school can draw from the following strengths to support the school in its goal to implement changes to the school’s curriculum and teaching practices:
the established Anglican five Marks of Mission espousing tell, teach, tend, transform and treasure are the foundation for all aspects of teaching and learning
a leadership approach that collaboratively grows the school’s culture, vision and lived values and promotes a focus on improvement
committed and professional teaching teams, who are valued for their expertise, are open to discussing, innovating and growing quality practices.
Where to next?
Moving forward, the school will prioritise:
the board consulting with its community for strategic planning purposes, to reconnect to the common vision as the driver that guides the curriculum and teaching practices as they develop
identifying, and mobilising high impact strategies through teacher efficacy
exploring, creating and further growing and embedding Habits of Mind
co-construction of a literacy framework.
ERO’s role will be to support the school in its evaluation for improvement cycle to improve outcomes for all learners. ERO will support the school in reporting their progress to the community. The next public report on ERO’s website will be a Te Ara Huarau | School Evaluation Report and is due within three years.
Shelley Booysen Director of Schools
11 December 2023
About the School
The Education Counts website provides further information about the school’s student population, student engagement and student achievement. educationcounts.govt.nz/home
Read the full report on ero.govt.nz →
All 4 reports ERO holds for this school
ERO reviews a school every few years — around four years between reviews is the usual cycle — so an older date here reflects where a school sits in that cycle, not how it is doing.
Source: Education Review Office, CC BY 4.0.
Roll date: 30 June 2026 (2026).