On this page
For the full picture of senior provision, start with our international schools in Auckland directory, which lists every school by curriculum and stage. The schools below all run an examined Years 12 to 13 programme that leads directly to university entry, and they admit either by application or, for the state school here, by enrolment zone. This is a shortlist to research, not a ranking, and provision changes, so confirm current pathways with each school.
If you are weighing the qualification itself, our guides to A Levels and the International Baccalaureate explain how each is examined and recognised by universities. Families focused on outcomes should also read our shortlist of the most affordable international schools in Auckland for the cost angle on senior schooling.
The shortlist
St Cuthbert's College
St Cuthbert's, an independent girls school in Epsom, runs both NCEA and the IB Diploma in the senior years, so a Year 12 girl can choose breadth through the Diploma or the flexibility of NCEA. Its senior cohorts have featured consistently near the top of national comparisons, and the dual offer means the school does not force one route on every student. It is a strong shortlist entry for families who want an academic single sex sixth form with a real choice of qualification.
Takapuna Grammar School
Takapuna Grammar on the North Shore was the first state school in New Zealand accredited to teach the IB Diploma, which it runs alongside NCEA in Years 12 and 13. For a domestic family in zone it offers an established IB sixth form without private tuition fees, a genuinely unusual combination in the city. Entry for domestic students is by enrolment zone, so check the boundary before committing to an address.
ACG Parnell College
ACG Parnell College in the central suburb of Parnell is one of the few Auckland schools to offer both the IB Diploma and Cambridge A Levels in the senior years, with a wide spread of AS and A Level courses. That dual senior offer lets a student pick the broad IB or the focused A Level route at one school. It is a natural shortlist entry for families weighing the two international qualifications side by side.
Diocesan School for Girls
Diocesan School for Girls in Epsom, widely known as Dio, runs an IB Diploma stream alongside its NCEA pathway in the senior years, with strong destinations to New Zealand and overseas universities. For a family that wants a long established girls school with the Diploma available as a senior route, Dio belongs on the shortlist. Confirm the current Diploma subject groups with the school.
Wentworth College
Wentworth College in Gulf Harbour teaches Cambridge International AS and A Levels in the senior years after IGCSE, with small class sizes on a coastal campus north of the city. For a student who wants a wholly British A Level sixth form and thrives in a smaller setting, Wentworth is a focused option, though families should weigh its northern location and narrower subject list against the larger central colleges.
How we chose
We included only Auckland schools we could confirm run a genuine, externally examined sixth form leading to university entry, the IB Diploma, Cambridge A Levels or NCEA Level 3, and that enrol students through to Year 13. We did not rank them, score them or attach ratings, because the right sixth form depends on your child's subjects, the qualification universities in your target country prefer, and the fit of the school. Verify current subject lists and pathways directly, as schools add and retire options year to year.
Shortlist Auckland schools for your child
Tell us your child's stage, curriculum and priorities and the school finder returns a matched Auckland shortlist.
Start the school finderFees and next steps
Sixth form fees in Auckland vary more than in most cities, because the senior options here range from a free state school to private schools whose senior years sit at the top of their fee scale. Rather than quote figures that move each year, we keep the live bands in one place: see our guide to international school fees in Auckland for current tuition by school and stage, and confirm the exact senior figure, plus any examination and deposit costs, with the school before you apply.
To build a shortlist around your child, use the school finder, browse the full Auckland schools directory, or compare the related shortlists for boarding and special educational needs in Auckland.
Common questions
St Cuthbert's College, Diocesan School for Girls, ACG Parnell College and Takapuna Grammar School all run the International Baccalaureate Diploma in Years 12 and 13. Takapuna Grammar was the first state school in New Zealand accredited for the Diploma. Confirm current subject lists with each school, as offerings change year to year.
ACG Parnell College and Wentworth College teach Cambridge International AS and A Levels in the senior years after IGCSE. A Levels let a student specialise in three or four subjects. Confirm the current subject list with each school before applying.
New Zealand does not use the term sixth form formally; the equivalent stage is Years 12 and 13, the final two years of secondary school. In those years students sit NCEA Level 2 and 3, the IB Diploma or Cambridge A Levels depending on the school. We use sixth form here as the international shorthand for that stage.
It depends entirely on the school. State schools such as Takapuna Grammar charge no tuition for domestic students, while private schools sit at the top of their fee scale in the senior years. Figures change annually, so we keep current bands in our international school fees in Auckland guide rather than quote a number that dates quickly.
It varies by school type. State schools such as Takapuna Grammar admit domestic students by an enrolment zone, while private schools such as St Cuthbert's, ACG Parnell and Wentworth admit by application and assessment. Check each school's entry route for the senior years.