Southwell School
200 Peachgrove Road, Claudelands · Waikato
See all schools in Claudelands →
Composite score
Established
Above median
Rank #1,151 of scored NZ schools
In summary
Southwell School is a full primary in Claudelands, Hamilton, with a roll of 664 students. The school meets all eight criteria for registration under the Education and Training Act 2020. ERO identified strengths in comprehensive safety policies, self-review systems for international students, and quality ESOL and academic support. The school's composite score is 80.
Best suited for
Students aged 5-11 in Claudelands looking for an independent setting with an established ERO profile.
Is Southwell School a good school?
Southwell School scores 70/100 on the SchoolsNearMe composite — a weighted average of 5 axes (academic, outcomes, retention, wellbeing, trajectory). Above median nationally. ERO trajectory has declined across recent review cycles. The full breakdown is below; every input links to its source.
Strengths from the latest ERO report
- Comprehensive and regularly reviewed policies and procedures for student safety
- Robust systems of self-review for international student health and safety
- High quality ESOL and in-class academic support for international students
Summary derived from ERO reports + audited financials + MoE records. Every claim links to its source — see data transparency at the bottom of this page.
Score breakdown
6 axes, each scored 0–100 on a national absolute scale. As at 2025.
no discipline data · why? ▼ hide
+3.0% roll over 5yr (2020→2025) · below band median (n=77) · why? ▼ hide
80/100 from ERO review 2024-05 · near band median (n=96) · why? ▼ hide
Real ERO composite (from the latest review): 80/100.
Latest ERO review
2024-05-15 · Shelley Booysen, ERO
- School meets all eight criteria for registration as a private school under the Education and Training Act 2020
- Premises, staffing, equipment, and curriculum are all suitable for the school's student population
- School has regularly reviewed policies and procedures to provide for a physically and emotionally safe place for students
- School is a signatory provider to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021
- Boarding house provides accommodation for 37 students with robust annual internal reviews and strong focus on student wellbeing
"A safe place is one in which risks to student safety are regularly assessed and evaluated with a view to eliminating, or at least reducing, harm."
Composite score across reviews
3 ERO reviews on file, 2013–2024. Click a point to read that review.
Trajectory across review cycles
Year-over-year change per dimension based on consecutive ERO reviews.
Leadership changed significantly with a new headmaster appointed in Term 4, 2016. The 2013 report praised the incumbent headmaster as 'highly effective' with 'clear vision'; the 2017 report describes the new headmaster as 'bringing renewed focus on values, manners and wellbeing with strategic and considered approach to change management,' supported by an 'experienced and competent senior leadership team.' The overall leadership quality rating declined from 95 to 85.
2013-05 → 2017-05 diff source
Both reports affirm strong teaching quality, but the focus shifted from 2013's emphasis on 'outstanding teaching practice' with 'high order thinking skills' to 2017's stress on 'safe classroom cultures' and children learning from each other. The 2017 report highlights expanded use of digital technologies and learning support infrastructure, whereas 2013 emphasized specialist centres and collaborative work.
2013-05 → 2017-05 diff source
Both reports affirm strong wellbeing provision, but with a notable shift in focus and emphasis. The 2017 report highlighted the new headmaster's strategic initiative to bring 'renewed focus on values, manners and wellbeing,' while the 2024 report demonstrates this has matured into comprehensive, regularly reviewed policies and robust systems, particularly emphasizing boarding student wellbeing and pastoral care access for all students.
2017-05 → 2024-05 diff source
Both reports affirm strong curriculum delivery, but emphasis shifted from 2013's focus on 'outstanding teaching practice promoting student engagement with high order thinking skills' to 2017's broader highlight of 'outstanding opportunities to develop as confident and competent learners in academic, cultural, sporting, spiritual and social areas.' The 2017 report adds explicit mention of 'extensive and effective use of digital technologies' and introduces a new 'ako nui' review to strengthen bicultural practice, indicating curricular evolution toward digital integration and cultural responsiveness.
2013-05 → 2017-05 diff source
Both reports emphasize strong wellbeing provision, but with a notable shift in focus. The 2013 report highlights established, comprehensive hostel care and safe environments as existing strengths. The 2017 report indicates the new headmaster is actively bringing 'renewed focus on values, manners and wellbeing' as a strategic priority, suggesting this became a more intentional leadership agenda rather than an assumed continuation.
2013-05 → 2017-05 diff source
Government funding
Crown funding only (school operations + teacher salaries + property). Excludes locally-raised funds, international fees and trading income — those are in the audited financial report above.
Total Crown funding · 2022
$0.63M
Per-student funding · 2022
$955
2018
$0.6M
2019
$0.7M
2020
$0.6M
2021
$0.6M
2022
$0.6M
Roll by year level
July 2025 roll return.
- Year 01 34
- Year 02 95
- Year 03 53
- Year 04 68
- Year 05 102
- Year 06 158
- Year 07 135
- Year 08 2
Roll by ethnicity
Share of total roll. Students who identify with multiple ethnicities are counted once.
- European/Pākehā 69.0%
- Asian 29.8%
- Māori 10.1%
- Other / MELAA 2.7%
- Pacific 2.6%
- International 0.2%
International students
SIEBA member · Boarding available
ESOL support
partial
Years accepted
Years 0-8
Location
200 Peachgrove Road, Claudelands. Nearby schools marked in grey.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap, © CARTO
Schools nearby
Within 15km, sorted by distance. Add any to compare with Southwell School.
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-17 vs this
Hamilton Boys' High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · 1.1km · 2,261 roll
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+5 vs this
Patricia Avenue School
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Frequently asked
Is Southwell School a good school?
Southwell School scores 70/100 on the SchoolsNearMe composite — a weighted average of 5 axes (academic, outcomes, retention, wellbeing, trajectory). Above median nationally. ERO trajectory has declined across recent review cycles. The full breakdown is below; every input links to its source.
What does the latest ERO review say?
ERO's 2024-05 review identified 5 key findings. School meets all eight criteria for registration as a private school under the Education and Training Act 2020
How do I enrol my child at Southwell School?
Contact the school directly on 07-855 2089, email office@southwell.school.nz, or visit www.southwell.school.nz. For state schools, check your home address against the school's enrolment zone — some schools are in-zone-only.
What are the fees?
Southwell School is a private school. Tuition fees are set by the school — contact them directly for current rates.
What is the roll size?
Southwell School has 664 students.
When was the school last reviewed by ERO?
The Education Review Office last reviewed Southwell School in 2024-05, signed by Shelley Booysen. 3 ERO reports are on file in our archive.
Data transparency
Every fact on this page links to its source. We never publish a claim without provenance — read our methodology for the full rules.
Sourced from
- ero.govt.nz
- sieba.nz
- schoolsdata.co.nz
- southwell.school.nz
- crimestats.co.nz