People are sometimes surprised to learn that King’s College has female students.
While our foundations were originally as a boys’ school, over the last 40 years more than 2,000 girls have graduated from the college.
Girls were first admitted in 1980 and at the time it was a bold step. It prompted strong debate amongst King’s families but in the end 15 girls started their journey at the college in Year 13 (formerly 7th form) and began a new era. Entry for girls is now from Year 11 to better fit with the three-year academic cycle leading to Cambridge and NCEA examinations.
Girls choose King’s because it offers them more of a challenging environment in their senior secondary school years. With an emphasis on all-round education girls excel in academic, sporting, cultural and community service along with leadership opportunities to help prepare them for tertiary education and beyond.
In 2005 Middlemore House became a sole girls’ boarding house and today attracts a waiting list. In 2006 Taylor House was established as the first girls’ day house and, due to demand, next year we will introduce a second girls’ day house.
On graduating, students become life-long members of the King’s College Old Collegians Association (KCOCA) joining over 12,000 members around the world. In June the KCOCA appointed its first woman president in 119 years. Ms Julyan Lawry, who is a general practitioner, attended King’s from 1986-87 and was dux of the college.
Next year the college celebrates 40 years of girls at King’s College. This important milestone will be marked with a special Gala Ball to be held in Auckland on Saturday 2 May. We encourage Old Collegians along with current and former parents and staff and supporters of the college to join us for what promises to be a very memorable evening.
