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A warm welcome to Saint Kentigern Girls’ School, a school which nurtures girls in Years 0 - 8, inspiring them to reach their potential and take on opportunities with confidence.
We encourage our girls to be curious, to have a growth mindset and to be flexible thinkers. We instil the belief that each girl can make a difference in the world around her and enable our students to be the very best version of themselves.
We are a vibrant learning community and believe that learning needs to be a dynamic and enriching experience. Our innovative environment and state of the art learning spaces provide our students with the very best atmosphere to learn, discover and grow.
High-quality research about how girls learn and thrive informs our teaching practice. We ensure that our learners have tailor-made experiences which enable them to build an excellent academic foundation, setting them up for life.
We know that learning and wellbeing are inextricably linked. When we enhance the wellbeing of our students and enable them to grow in character and resilience, we create the climate for them to thrive as learners and become the leaders of tomorrow.
At Saint Kentigern Girls’ School, we invite our students to take initiative and become actively involved in their learning journey. We cultivate a mindset that anything is possible with motivation, hard work, and dedication.
Extensive opportunities are provided for our learners to engage in co-curricular programmes and service. This enables them to give generously to others, develop a sense of belonging, and build friendships which last for life.
At Saint Kentigern Girls’ School, our teachers are second to none. They love to teach, inspire learning, and go above and beyond to ensure that our girls have the very best learning opportunities.
I look forward to welcoming you to our wonderful community.
Fides Servanda Est
Marianne Duston
Principal, Saint Kentigern Girls’ School.
Marianne joined Saint Kentigern Girls’ School as Principal in January 2024. Marianne brings a wealth of experience, a collaborative approach, a strong faith, and a passion for excellence in providing an exceptional educational experience. During her career in education, she has led innovative school-wide initiatives in teaching, learning and wellbeing within several leading independent schools in New Zealand and Australia.
Before her appointment, Marianne was Head of Teaching and Learning Excellence at Ravenswood School for Girls, an independent school in Sydney, Australia for 1400 students from Preschool to Year 12. She has had extensive experience as a senior leader in independent schools, and prior to this role was Deputy Principal at Queen Margaret College, Wellington, and Saint Kentigern College.
Commenting on her appointment, Mrs Duston said, “It is a real joy to inspire and nurture young learners and future leaders, and I am looking forward to returning to Saint Kentigern to be part of this wonderful community. I am excited about leading the Girls’ School and fostering a warm connected community amongst staff, students, and families. I want to enable girls to flourish academically, take on challenges with confidence, and thrive in life.”
Marianne is passionate about education and the research that informs exceptional teaching and learning. She completed a masters in school leadership, which was awarded with Distinction.
Prior to her teaching career, Mrs Duston trained as a pharmacist at the University of Otago and worked in the medical industry. She represented New Zealand in triathlon and cross country and has coached and managed several New Zealand teams in athletics and cross-country.
