Enrolment

St Bede’s College Open Day is Tuesday 7 May 2024, 9am – 12noon.

Prospective students for 2025 enrolments and their parents/ caregivers are welcome to attend. 

Enrolment information is provided under the headings below. If you have any further queries please contact Amy Symington

View Prospectus

Year 9 Overview

Preference

Preference/Non Preference

The College is intended primarily for Catholic boys from Years 9-13. In terms of the Integration Agreement signed between the College and the Crown, a certain percentage of the total roll must consist of “Preference” pupils. Normally, a “Preference” pupil will be a baptised Catholic. If you are in doubt as to whether your son qualifies as a “Preference” pupil please consult Rachel Pitcaithly. Those who apply for a place as a “Preference” pupil should submit a Preference Card  with their Application.

A small percentage of the total roll may be “Non-Preference” pupils. Places are given to such pupils on the basis of availability. “Non-Preference” pupils are expected to take a full part in all aspects of College life and have the same opportunities and responsibilities as the “Preference” pupils.

The Criteria Promulgated by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference, which are to be used by Proprietors and their Agents, in order to Grant Preference of Enrolment are:

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

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

5.3. 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.

5.4. With the agreement of the child’s parent/guardian, a significant familial adult undertakes to support the child’s formation in the faith and practices of the Catholic Church. The significant familial adult is expected to be practising their faith in their own local parish. They may be a grandparent, aunt, or uncle who is actively involved in the child’s upbringing.

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

Stationery

Letter to Parents regarding 2024 stationery requirements

Stationery orders at OfficeMax: www.myschool.co.nz/stbedes

Printable Stationery Lists:
Year 9
Year 10
Year 11
Year 12
Year 13

Scholarships

Developing Young Catholic Leaders

This year we will be awarding four entrance scholarships. These scholarships consider the whole person within the specified criteria, as outlined in the attached form.

The scholarship process comprises of:

  • Submission of a written portfolio outlining your son’s achievements and interests
  • the completed scholarship form – download here

All applications must be received no later than Friday 20 October 2023.. This process also applies to those who have previously indicated interest in these scholarships.

Further enquiries to rpitcaithly@stbedes.school.nz

The Keith Stopforth Memorial Scholarship

The Stopforth family have generously gifted this scholarship to acknowledge the profound affect St Bede’s had on their father, Keith’s (Boarder 1945 to 1949) life.  He valued the education he received and attributed a lot of his later achievements to his years spent at St Bede’s.

  • The recipient will be selected by the Rector of St Bede’s College.
  • No applications accepted. Strict Criteria applies.
  • More information about the scholarship here.

The Ministry of Education has various bursaries and allowances available:

  • School Boarding Bursary – eligibility is determined by the distance the student lives from the nearest state school or school bus stop. The distance being 4.8km for a child over the age of 10 years More information
  • Secondary School Technical Bursary – available for Year 10 and 11 students. Eligibility is determined by a student not being able to obtain tuition in at least two approved subjects at their local school. The student’s course must include at least four nationally approved subjects

Application forms are available from the local branch of the Ministry of Education or the College office.

School Fees and Donations

School Fees, donations and information on how these funds are used and how you can gift your tax credit here

 

 

Uniform

St Bede’s College Shop is the sole supplier of the official College Uniform, a joint venture between the Board of Proprietors and the Board of Trustees. All new entrants are required to purchase their uniform from the College Shop and fittings will be arranged once your son is accepted for enrolment. The College Shop also has second hand uniform items.

Hair and Jewellery

Students may wear a cross or taonga under their shirts.  Earrings and facial piercings are NOT permitted.  No other jewellery is permitted except a watch.

Student’s hair is to be one colour, able to be combed, off the collar and clean.  Dreadlocks, corn rows, braided hair or rats tails are NOT permitted. If a student has long hair, it must be tied up when travelling to and from school in school uniform and during school hours.

Uniform Shop

International Enrolment

St Bede’s College welcomes International Students and is proud of its longstanding tradition in hosting students from many nations for over 20 years.

Overseas students make a valuable contribution to our College, adding to the richness and diversity of our own cultures, and enabling us all to gain a greater appreciation and understanding of a variety of other cultures.

International Enrolment

Boarding Enrolment

Boarding Open Day 2024

Friday 15 March 10am-12 noon
Applications close Friday 22 March


Boarding at St Bede’s is a tradition that goes back to the 1920s.  Our rich history and tradition provides an excellent foundation to embrace the challenges of the modern era and prepare our boys to be Catholic leaders wherever life takes them. 

Today’s boarders enjoy life away from home at the only single-sex Catholic boarding school in the South Island. Under the leadership of Rector Jon McDowall and Assistant Rector – Boarding, Mr Kurt Paterson, the Boarding School has a renewed focus on providing the best possible environment for all boys to develop into fine young men of St Bede. 

Boarding families complete online enrolment by clicking the “Enrol Online Here” tab above.

Enrolment Scheme

Preference / Non-Preference Applicants

Preference Applicants are those who qualify for preference under the terms of the College’s Integration Agreement with the Crown and/or hold a Preference of Enrolment Certificate issued in accordance with the directions of the Catholic Bishops of New Zealand. NonPreference Applicants are those who do not qualify as a Preference Applicant.

Priority For Enrolment

  1. First Priority Preference Applicants – Boarders First priority will be given to Preference Applicants who wish to enrol in the Boarding School at the College.
  2. Second Priority Preference Applicants – Day Students Second priority will be given to Preference Applicants for whom the College is reasonably convenient, namely those whose place of residence is in the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch and within an area where the applicant can attend the College as a day student. If the total number of applications in this category is less than the number of places available, then all applicants will be enrolled. If there are more applications than available places, then applicants will be enrolled according to the following order of priorities:
    2.1 Those who are brothers of current students;
    2.2 Those who are brothers of former students;
    2.3 Those who are sons of present members of the St Bede’s College Board of Trustees or Board of Proprietors;
    2.4 Those who are direct family members of former students;
    2.5 Those who are sons of College staff employed on a permanent basis by the College’s Board of Trustees or Board of Proprietors at the time of application;
    2.6 Those other Applicants who do not qualify pursuant to clauses 2.1-2.5 inclusive.If at any level of this classification there are more applicants than available places, then those applicants

    for whom the College is the closest Catholic secondary school measured in a straight line from the applicant’s principal residence to the main vehicle entrance of the College, will be enrolled until all of the available places have been filled

  3. Third Priority Non-Preference Applicants Non-Preference Applicants will only be enrolled if enrolment places remain after all Preference Applicants have been enrolled and the College’s Board of Trustees judges that enrolment of the NonPreference Applicants will not compromise its ability to offer places to Preference Applicants who may apply for enrolment at a later date. The number of places available for Non-Preference Applicants will be governed by the maximum number allowable from time to time under the College’s Integration Agreement.Priority of any such Non-Preference Applications will be given in accordance with the criteria detailed in the second priority.
  4. Waiting List If the total number of applications is greater than the number of places available, unsuccessful applicants will have their names recorded on a waiting list and shall be ranked in accordance with the criteria detailed in the second priority. Preference Applicants shall have priority above Non-Preference Applicants. Those applicants on the waiting list may be offered places at a later date if places become available. The waiting list will remain current for one year only, until the College’s Board of Trustees next notifies the public that it is inviting applications for the next enrolment intake.

Enrolment Applications

Applications for enrolment will be sought each year by a date that will be published in daily and community newspapers circulating throughout the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch and the South Island.