Our motto ‘Not just a school, but a family', builds on from the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions through building on quality relationships, hospitality and providing service to others in our community and country.

Our school Charism comes from the first Sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of the Missions, founded by French woman Euphrasie Barbier in 1861, who journeyed from France to New Zealand in 1865.

St James School is based in the Christchurch East Parish in Aranui and is governed by a Board of Trustees who are accountable to the Ministry of Education and the Catholic Bishop of Christchurch. There is a strong feeling of unity among the Board of Trustees, staff, students, parents and the parish.
The whole school community exercises the right to live and teach the values of Jesus Christ. These values are as expressed in the Scriptures and in the practices, worship and doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church.

The New Zealand Catholic Bishops have set the preference criteria for students wishing to be enrolled in New Zealand Catholic schools.

Preference

Children can be enrolled as preference students if:

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 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.

Non-Preference

State integrated schools have places for non-preference students.
a. Our school has a maximum of 6 places.
b. There are currently 0 places available this year or in 2025.
c. The school roll is now at its maximum and no non-preference places are
likely until 2028.

Non-Preference places criteria:
i. The applicants accept that they will be attending a school of special
character and that their place in the school is conditional on their
participation in the programme.
ii. The applicants accept that they will be required to pay attendance dues as set by the Proprietor and these are not voluntary.

Non-Preference criteria that apply to St James School.
i. The siblings of non-preference students already in the school.
ii. Siblings of former non-preference students.
iii. The children of staff or Board members who seek to enrol their children.
iv. Non-preference students coming from another integrated school with the same special character.
v. Children who live within one kilometre of the school and who want to
participate in the special character programme of the school.
f. Non-preference students who cannot enrol immediately may choose to be placed on a waiting list. Students on this list are wait listed by date and number and will be contacted if places become available. At the end of the calendar year the list is removed and people apply to be reinstated on the wait list for the following year.
Enrolment information is also available for this school in hard copy from the office.

Attendance Dues

Attendance Dues are collected on behalf of the Bishop of Christchurch, i.e. the Proprietor of the school.

All Catholic Schools charge Attendance Dues which are a legally binding charge on all parents and caregivers who have enrolled their children at a Catholic school. This is payable, unless in special circumstances, the charge has been waived by the Proprietor of the school for specific issues associated with a family.

In the Christchurch Diocese the 2025 Attendance Due charge is $158.75 per term (including GST) $635.00 per year, per child. The account is sent out at the beginning of each term, on behalf of the parish.

The charging of Attendance Dues is authorised under the Education and Training Act 2020, Schedule 6 CI 30, and are used to pay for costs associated with the land and buildings for the Catholic schools in the Diocese.

Where a parent has four or more children at a Catholic Primary School their attendance dues invoice will be for three children only, i.e. the fourth child, and any further children, will not be charged for attendance dues.

Accounts are sent at the beginning of each term. If possible, parents are strongly encouraged to set up an automatic payment with their bank.

Religious Diocesan Voluntary Donation

$60.00 per year per child

This contribution is collected on behalf of the Catholic Education Office and is used to cover costs associated with the provision and delivery of professional development and advisory services in support of Catholic Character in Catholic Primary schools in the Diocese.

 This financial contribution is a tax deductible donation.