If you would like to come and visit our wonderful learning environment then please make an appointment at the school office to meet with the Principal. This will give you the opportunity to ask any questions and to find out a little more about the school. You will have the chance to have a look around and meet some of the staff and children and see what a friendly and welcoming place we are!

As we are a Catholic State integrated school the Ministry of Education grants us the right to have 5% of our student roll as non-preference students. when our school roll has spaces. These students are those who do not have an affiliation with the Catholic Faith and places are given on a first come first served basis each year. 95% of our students are Preference students which means that they have met one of 5 possible criteria for preference entry.  Please refer to the attached document outlining St Paul's school priority in enrolment procedure. While our school roll is full, we accept all completed enrolment packs for consideration based on the guideines below. Enrolment placements are offeredd early October the year prior to starting.

The Bishop’s council has published guidelines to assist parish priests and schools in deciding which families should be regarded as having a connection with the Special Character of a Catholic School.  

In Summary these are;

1. The child has been baptised or is being prepared for baptism in the Catholic Church

2. The child’s parents / guardians have already allowed one or more of its siblings to be baptised in the Catholic faith.

3. At least one parent / guardian is a Catholic and , although their child has not yet been baptised, the child’s participation in the life of the school could lead to the parents having the child baptised.

4. With the agreement of the child’s parent/guardian, a grandparent or other significant adult in the child’s life, such as an aunt, uncle or godparent, undertakes to support the child’s formation in the faith and practices of the Catholic Church.

5. One or both of a child’s non-Catholic parents/guardians is preparing to become a Catholic.

Please note that it is parish priests and ethnic chaplains who decide whether a child has preference status … not the Principal of the school.

Please be sure to talk to us about any of the above if you need clarification.

Enrolment packs are available from the office or download the complete pack from the attachments below.  An appointment will also need to be made to meet our Archdiocese Representative, Lorraine McArthur, please contact the school office for contact details,  Father Bill Warwick if you are a family from the Stoke/Nelson area.

We encourage new entrant children,  to visit their new class over several weeks prior to commencing school full time. We feel this is important to allow the children to familiarise themselves with their new environment. The class teacher will telephone you to make arrangements for this to happen.

At Saint Paul’s School we are well aware of the importance of working in partnership with parents. We recognise parents as the child’s first educators.

As in all Catholic Schools in New Zealand, attendance dues are paid to the Diocese and an information booklet explaining this is available from the School.