Waikato Diocesan School

Waikato Diocesan School for Girls is a state-integrated single-sex girls' secondary school in Hamilton, New Zealand. It is an Anglican girls' boarding and day school for students of years 9 to 13. History Dio was first established as Sonning School in 1909, situated on Milton Street, Hamilton. With only a small roll of four pupils the school began to grow, and as it did there was need for larger premises so it was moved to Anglesea Street. Larger land was then purchased and a new school built on the eastern side of the railway bridge. This school was named Sonning after the Berkshire Village from which the Whitehorn family originated. It was then that the first Bishop of the Waikato, Cecil Cherrington, wanted to establish an Anglican Girls School in Hamilton and the Waikato Board for Diocesan Schools, formed in 1927, leased Sonning School from Mrs Whitehorn. Property at the current site in River Road, Hamilton, New Zealand was then bought in 1929. Waikato Diocesan School was officially opened in 1928 with a roll of 13 boarders and 70 day girls. The school opened at its permanent site in 1930, consisting of its flagship building, Cherrington, the Homestead, a barn, which was used as both hall and chapel, and open air classrooms. There have been 11 principals including Rosamond Robertshawe. The school has continued to grow and now has a roll of around 620 students. Waikato Diocesan School was a private school until March 1983, when it integrated into the state education system. Admissions and enrolment As a special character school, Waikato Diocesan School for Girls has a strict admissions procedure emphasising Anglican practice or family history at the school. Prospective students are interviewed by the headmaster annually and are informed of their acceptance in writing. As of 2024, annual dues and fees are $10,014 for day students and $27,500 for boarding students. As of March 2026, Waikato Diocesan School has a roll of 689 students, of which 59 (8.6%) identify as Māori. As of 2026, the school has an Equity Index of 391, placing it amongst schools whose students have the fewest socioeconomic barriers to achievement (roughly equivalent to deciles 9 and 10 under the former socio-economic decile system). Houses Notable alumnae Dame Ann Ballin (1932–2003), psychologist and victims' rights advocate Kylie Bax (born 1975), model and actress June Constance Howden (1918–2007), known as Judy, aviator, one of five New Zealand women who joined the Air Transport Auxiliary during World War Two Susan O'Regan, mayor of Waipa Hannah Osborne (born 1994), Olympic rower Julia Ratcliffe (born 1993), track and field Olympic medalist Dame Te Atairangikaahu (1931–2006), Māori queen Nanaia Mahuta (born 1970), politician and 28th Minister of Foreign Affairs Tarryn Davey (born 1996), New Zealand national field hockey player and Olympian Jessie Hodges (born 1996), multiple national cycling champion Katie Laurie (born 1986), New Zealand and Australian equestrian champion References Waikato Diocesan School. (2009). www.waikatodiocesan.school.nz. In Waikato Diocesan School for Girls. Retrieved 20 March 2009, from http://www.waikatodiocesan.school.nz/. McLennan, V. (2009) Waikato Diocesan School for Girls Prospectus. Hamilton, NZ: WDSG.