Kia ora e te whānau,
Welcome to Parnell District School.
We stand proudly on the rich history our school has built since its start in 1873. As one of Auckland’s earliest district schools, we have evolved into a place where tradition meets forward-thinking education. Here, we are committed to “Growing Great Humans” by blending academic excellence with strong values and a vibrant community spirit.
We are incredibly proud of the rigorous academic programme we offer. Our teachers are dedicated to ensuring that every learner’s day is filled with meaningful learning opportunities in rich, engaging contexts. We believe our classrooms are spaces where all children can achieve excellence, united by a shared vision of a highly rigorous curriculum that enhances outcomes for every student.
Alongside our academic focus, we are deeply committed to our vision of “Growing Great Humans” by living our values of kaitiakitanga, innovation, and truth. These values, shaped through consultation with our community, are woven into everything we do. You’ll see and hear these values reflected in the way our children learn and in how everyone in our school community interacts.
We are proud of our place in the Parnell community and want our school to be a welcoming, inspiring place where everyone works together for the best outcomes for all.
Ngā mihi,
Richard George, Principal
“I feel an immense sense of pride in the community we’ve built together and am excited to welcome you to be a part of it. We invite you to explore our dynamic and positive school community, where every day is an opportunity to inspire, learn and grow together”
Principal, Richard George
Many students arrive at PDS on foot, by scooter or bike. With a number also arriving by bus or having their parent / caregiver drop them off. Our teaching staff welcome students onto the school grounds from 8:30am each school day, their smiles at the four gates set a positive tone for the day ahead.
The first bell sounds at 8:55am and any students not yet their classrooms head that way for roll call. Tuition happens in three blocks, separated by morning tea and lunch – each with dedicated eating time before play. The school day ends at 3pm.
Parnell District School focuses on educating the whole child – emotionally, intellectually, socially and personally. Students are challenged with opportunities to participate in a range of academic, cultural, sporting and technology programmes. Click through the above tabs to learn more.
We’re proud to offer a rich and engaging STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) programme. We have two specialist STEAM teachers – one working with Year 1–6 students and the other with Year 7–8 students – to ensure learning is tailored and age-appropriate across the school.
Each term our Year 1–6 students take part in two full days of hands-on STEAM learning each term, with our Year 7–8 students enjoying four full days. These immersive experiences give students the time and space to deeply explore projects and develop practical skills.
Hands-on learning includes art making, construction, robotics, sewing, cooking, and science experiments. The programme fosters creativity, problem solving, and teamwork – helping students develop confidence and capability in a range of areas.
Years 1–6
Our Primary students take part in a structured literacy programme that develops skills in oral language, reading and writing. Learning happens through a combination of whole class teaching and, to ensure every student gets the support they need, small group workshops with their teacher. Students read and write every day, helping them grow into confident, capable communicators.
Years 7–8
Our English programme for Intermediate learners builds on this foundation with a focus on reading and writing for a range of purposes and audiences. Students explore different text types and use what they’ve learned to craft thoughtful, well-structured writing. Oral language remains a strong focus, with regular opportunities to speak in front of others and develop presentation skills in both small group, and whole-class settings.
In 2025, we introduced a new approach to teaching and learning mathematics called Maths — No Problem! This evidence-based programme was originally developed in Singapore and is now used successfully in schools around the world.
At our school, all students take part in a one-hour maths lesson daily, in their year level group. The programme is carefully structured to help children build a deep understanding of mathematical concepts through problem solving, discussion, and hands-on activities.
Check out the video below to see how Maths — No Problem! is brought to life in our classrooms.
Each school year begins with a three-week Mini Inquiry called Creating Our Culture. This important start to the year helps children build strong relationships, understand our school values, and create a positive, inclusive classroom culture alongside their peers and teacher.
Throughout the year, students engage in three Main Inquiries, each designed to provide rich learning opportunities across the wider curriculum. These inquiries include:
The Arts (dance, drama, visual art and music) are woven into one or more of the main inquiries. During each inquiry, students receive explicit teaching in the subject area and are guided through an inquiry process that encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and independent learning. Wherever possible, students are supported to explore areas of personal interest within the wider theme—making their learning meaningful, engaging, and authentic.
At our school, we value the importance of learning additional languages and the cultural understanding that comes with it.
Students in Years 4–8 take part in a weekly Mandarin lesson with our specialist Mandarin teacher. These lessons build student’s vocabulary, pronunciation and cultural knowledge through engaging, age appropriate activities.
Te Reo Māori is taught explicitly each week across all year levels. In addition to dedicated lessons, Te Reo and tikanga Māori are integrated into learning across the curriculum. This helps foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Aotearoa New Zealand’s bicultural heritage.
At Parnell District School, we are committed to ensuring all our policies and strategic planning are thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of our learners. The key documents that guide our school’s direction and operations are listed below, click on the downwards arrow to understand the purpose of each and for the link to the document.
We hope you find these helpful and informative, please contact us if you have any questions or need further assistance.
This document outlines what we are focusing on this year and how we plan to achieve our goals, as set out in the Charter. Learn about the Annual Plan for 2025.
If you’re looking to understand our school’s vision, values, and strategic goals for the coming years, explore our Charter.
If you would like to review our most recent achievements and outcomes, review our 2024 Annual Report.
A comprehensive overview of the policies that govern our school, are available on the school docs website. Use the following log in details to search the directory:
Username: Parnell
Password: parnelldistrict
Parnell School was established in 1873 as one of the first eight schools to operate under the Auckland Education Board. It was first located at Fraser Park in Parnell, then relocated to the current site on St Stephen’s Road – with its’ flat grounds and larger footprint – in 1933.
It has a rich history of fostering learning and has been a cornerstone of the community for many years.
Past and current Boards and Principals are proud to have retained the historic look of the school as upgrades. The most recent upgrade was in 2024 to the Leonard Block, that borders the school field. The school has many historical artifacts dotted through the site and boasts modern amenities like a music suite and futsal court to help bring the school and learning experience to life.
