St Mary's School (Wanganui)
30 London Street, Whanganui · Taranaki & Manawatū
See all schools in Whanganui →
Composite score
Established
Below median
Rank #1,336 of scored NZ schools
In summary
St Mary's School (Wanganui) shows continuous improvement in learner outcomes, with most students achieving at or above expected levels in mathematics and reading, and a majority in writing. The school's strengths include strong community relationships, teachers' knowledge of students, and a supportive environment enhanced by its special character and parish partnerships. The school has identified achieving equity for Māori and Pacific students in writing as a priority area.
Best suited for
Students aged 5-11 in Whanganui looking for a state-funded setting with an established ERO profile.
Is St Mary's School (Wanganui) a good school?
St Mary's School (Wanganui) scores 66/100 on the SchoolsNearMe composite — a weighted average of 5 axes (academic, outcomes, retention, wellbeing, trajectory). Below 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
- Leaders build community and professional relationships to enhance the school's special character and teaching and learning programmes
- Teachers know students well and work together to provide purposeful, well-paced learning opportunities for all learners
- The school's special character and partnerships with the parish community promotes a spiritual, physical and emotionally secure environment
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.
standdowns 30.5/1k · suspensions 0.0/1k · exclusions 0.0/1k · near band median (n=404) · why? ▼ hide
+0.4% roll over 5yr (2020→2025) · near band median (n=403) · why? ▼ hide
73/100 from ERO review 2024-12 · below band median (n=406) · why? ▼ hide
⚠ Insufficient EQI-band peers (n<10) to compute per-axis percentile context. The score above is absolute; treat it as a single-school read rather than a peer comparison.
Real ERO composite (from the latest review): 73/100.
Latest ERO review
2024-12-06 · Shelley Booysen, ERO
- Outcomes for learners show continuous improvement over time
- Most learners in mathematics and reading, and a majority of learners in writing, achieve at or above the expected curriculum levels
- Achieving equity for groups of learners, particularly for Māori and Pacific students in writing, remains a priority
- Leaders increasingly build a collaborative teaching culture committed to high quality teaching and equitable outcomes for learners
- A majority of students attend school regularly, but not yet meeting the Ministry of Education target
"Leaders increasingly build a collaborative teaching culture committed to high quality teaching and equitable outcomes for learners."
Composite score across reviews
3 ERO reviews on file, 2014–2024. Click a point to read that review.
Trajectory across review cycles
Year-over-year change per dimension based on consecutive ERO reviews.
The 2014 report described the curriculum as 'highly effective in promoting and supporting student learning' with clear documentation and wide learning opportunities. By 2018, while the curriculum continued to promote engagement and reflect Catholic character, the school had identified that 'further development of the school's curriculum is needed, including the ongoing focus on strengthening student outcomes and teacher practice in delivery of mathematics,' indicating a shift from achieved excellence to identified improvement areas.
2014-08 → 2018-11 diff source
Teaching quality declined noticeably between 2014 and 2018. The 2014 report praised teaching practices as 'highly effective' with students 'fully engaged in learning' in 'calm, settled' classrooms. By 2018, while the learning environment remained 'well managed,' there was explicit acknowledgment that 'further development of the school's curriculum is needed' with specific focus on 'strengthening student outcomes and teacher practice in delivery of mathematics.'
2014-08 → 2018-11 diff source
Achievement for Māori students declined notably between reports. In 2014, nearly all Māori students achieved at and above National Standards with high levels of success. By 2018, only approximately half of those Māori students who were below expected levels had made expected progress, indicating a significant shift in performance trajectory and outcomes.
2014-08 → 2018-11 diff source
Teaching practice has evolved from a foundation of strong leadership and curriculum provision toward a more explicitly collaborative teaching culture with emphasis on high-quality, purposeful instruction. The 2024 report highlights that 'Teachers know students well and work together to provide purposeful, well-paced learning opportunities for all learners,' whereas the 2018 report focused on leadership identifying curriculum development needs and strengthening teacher practice in mathematics.
2018-11 → 2024-12 diff source
St Mary's School has shifted from a position where it 'responds well in achieving equity and excellence for many students' (2018) to one where 'Achieving equity for groups of learners, particularly for Māori and Pacific students in writing, remains a priority' (2024). While progress with Māori students was noted in 2018, the 2024 report identifies persistent equity gaps in writing for Māori and Pacific students as an ongoing challenge.
2018-11 → 2024-12 diff source
Discipline (age-standardised, per 1,000 students)
Stand-down = sent home temporarily. Suspension = formal investigation. Exclusion = removed from school. National averages shown for comparison.
Stand-downs · 2024
30.5
5 this year · NZ avg ~37
Suspensions · 2024
0.0
· NZ avg ~5
Exclusions · 2024
0.0
· NZ avg ~1.5
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
$1.61M
Per-student funding · 2022
$6,255
2018
$1.4M
2019
$1.4M
2020
$1.6M
2021
$1.6M
2022
$1.6M
Roll by year level
July 2025 roll return.
- Year 01 24
- Year 02 28
- Year 03 32
- Year 04 33
- Year 05 29
- Year 06 28
- Year 07 41
- Year 08 34
Roll by ethnicity
Share of total roll. Students who identify with multiple ethnicities are counted once.
- European/Pākehā 50.8%
- Asian 26.7%
- Māori 26.0%
- Pacific 6.6%
- Other / MELAA 1.6%
Location
30 London Street, Whanganui. Nearby schools marked in grey.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap, © CARTO
Schools nearby
Within 15km, sorted by distance. Add any to compare with St Mary's School (Wanganui).
Cullinane College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · 0.2km · 444 roll
67
+1 vs this
Whanganui Girls' College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · 1km · 345 roll
54
-12 vs this
Keith Street School
Contributing · 1.2km · 179 roll
48
-18 vs this
Whanganui East School
Contributing · 1.2km · 165 roll
43
-23 vs this
St Johns Hill School
Contributing · 1.7km · 423 roll
80
+14 vs this
St Anne's School (Wanganui)
Full Primary · 1.7km · 222 roll
40
-26 vs this
Frequently asked
Is St Mary's School (Wanganui) a good school?
St Mary's School (Wanganui) scores 66/100 on the SchoolsNearMe composite — a weighted average of 5 axes (academic, outcomes, retention, wellbeing, trajectory). Below 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 2024-12 review identified 5 key findings. Outcomes for learners show continuous improvement over time
How do I enrol my child at St Mary's School (Wanganui)?
Contact the school directly on 06-343 1227, email school@stmarys.ac.nz, or visit www.stmarys.ac.nz. For state schools, check your home address against the school's enrolment zone — some schools are in-zone-only.
What are the fees?
St Mary's School (Wanganui) is a state school. There is no tuition fee for domestic students; voluntary donations may be requested.
What is the roll size?
St Mary's School (Wanganui) has 258 students, with an EQI of 469 (mid-range socio-economic context).
When was the school last reviewed by ERO?
The Education Review Office last reviewed St Mary's School (Wanganui) in 2024-12, signed by Shelley Booysen. 4 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
- schoolsdata.co.nz
- crimestats.co.nz