Last updated October 2026
St Mary’s Catholic School is a state-integrated, co-educational primary school for Years 1 to 6 at 40 Campion Road, Gisborne. It opened in 1926 and had 228 students on its roll at 1 September 2026.
It has no home zone, so any student can apply. Its site describes a Catholic special character in the tradition of the Sisters of St Joseph, with a sacramental programme, and lists Positive Behaviour for Learning, Enviroschools, one-to-one digital devices for Years 3 to 6 and membership of the Manaiakalani Outreach programme.
Other options include music, culture, leadership, a gifted and talented programme called Aurora, and sport such as netball, football, hockey, rugby, cricket, gymnastics and swimming.
At a glance
- Principal
- Helen McGuigan
- Address
- 40 Campion Road, Gisborne
- Phone
- 06 868 8332
Home zone
No home zone: any student can apply to enrol. If more students apply than there are places, the school decides how places are offered.
Who goes here
Share of the 228 students who identify with each group. Students can name more than one, so these add up to more than 100%.
MELAA: Middle Eastern, Latin American and African.
What ERO found
The Education Review Office’s latest report on the school is a School Report from November 2025. ERO found that success and progress are increasing, teaching is of good quality, and since the previous report every teacher has had professional learning in structured literacy, digital skills and the revised maths curriculum, with whānau taking part in student-led conferences.
A large majority of learners meet or exceed the expected curriculum level in reading and in maths, and a small majority in writing. Reading and writing results are becoming more equitable, but maths results are not yet equitable across groups.
A large majority attend regularly, and the school is approaching the government’s attendance target with chronic absence falling. ERO noted a strong sense of belonging, orderly and inclusive classrooms, and consistent structured routines in literacy and maths.
The agreed priorities are to hold and build on the gains in regular attendance, bring the new English and maths curriculum fully into classroom programmes, check how well improvement work and professional learning are lifting progress and equity, and build all staff’s ability to bring te reo Māori into teaching and learning.
Read the ERO reports for St Mary’s Catholic School (Gisborne)
Enrolling
As a state-integrated Catholic school, it gives preference of enrolment to children with a connection to the Catholic faith, on grounds set out on its enrolment page, and has a limited number of non-preference places. Families accept the school’s special character, and attendance dues apply; they are invoiced by the Catholic Education Office of the Hamilton Diocese.
The school asks families to contact the office first to discuss enrolment. When a child cannot be enrolled straight away, families can join a waiting list, with places offered in date order.
Schools nearby
Where students go next
Based on home zones around the school’s own address. Families can apply to any school, and your own address decides which zones you are in.
In Te Hāpara
St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne) is in Te Hāpara. Our suburb guide covers what it is like to live there, with parks, places and local businesses.
Questions parents ask
Is St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne) zoned?
No. It has no home zone, so any student can apply to enrol.
What years does it teach?
Years 1 to 6.
How many students go there?
228 at 1 Sep 2026.
Does it ask for donations?
No. It is in the donation scheme, so it only asks for donations for school camps.
What is its Equity Index?
423. The Ministry of Education’s Equity Index estimates the socio-economic barriers a school’s students face, from 344 (fewest) to 569 (most). It is used to share out funding, not as a measure of quality.
Updated automatically when the Ministry publishes new data.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 1
- School facts: School details and roll: Ministry of Education school directory, 29 Oct 2026 (CC BY 4.0). NCEA results, roll history and stand-downs: Education Counts, school leavers 2023 to 2025, stand-downs 2025, rolls 2021 to 2025 (CC BY 4.0).