St. Peter’s is proud to announce its outstanding International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme results (released on 17 December 2024), which reflect the dedication, talent, and resilience of both students and staff. St. Peter’s is the only school in the Central North Island to offer this globally renowned qualification.
This year’s cohort of 58 students, the largest in the school’s history, achieved remarkable success, setting new records for the school.
One student, Zach Macaskill-Smith, made school history to become the first-ever St. Peter’s student to achieve a perfect score of 45 point – a phenomenal score attained by under 1% of those who take the qualification worldwide.
Other top performing students were Meera Patel, Katie Li, Toby Zaiser, Olivia Skiffington, Murdoch Dawe, Tim Qian and Leon Lee, all scoring 40+ points each, an outstanding feat. In fact, grades were phenomenal across the board with an overall average of 32 points, with 41 students scoring higher than the global average of 30.3 points for the IB this year.
Key Highlights of the 2024 Results:
- A 91% diploma pass rate, once again outperforming global averages.
- An average score of 32 points, maintaining St Peter’s tradition of academic excellence.
- 8 students achieved 40+ points, a phenomenal result representing 14% of the cohort.
Of those 58, two students completed bilingual diplomas, Eva McGuire studied in English and Vietnamese and Hyemin Cho studied in English and Korean.
The IB is not, however, just about the top end scores. We are equally delighted by the individual success stories of students who have excelled in their favourite subject – be it Literature, Science or the Arts – and by those who are the first in their family to attend university. All of these are achievements to be proud of and we celebrate the mall.
Additionally, six students achieved the highly coveted A grade for their Extended Essays (EE), are flection of both their commitment to research and the dedicated mentorship they received. The EE requires students to write a 4,000-word essay in a subject area they are interested in, such as English Literature, Business Studies, Geography or Chemistry. This assessment supports students entering university or tertiary study as they have already had practice with the research, drafting, and editing journey.
The IB Diploma Programme is also valued due to the expectation that students complete Theory of Knowledge (TOK)and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) over their two years. As a school, the service element of CAS is particularly important to us. This is an attribute that we value in young people and seek to develop from the moment they join us through to the time they leave at the end of Year 13.
Summing up the group’s achievement, IB Diploma Programme Coordinator Toni Foley commented:
“We are incredibly proud of the exceptional achievements of our 2024 cohort. Zach’s perfect score and the successes in Extended Essays showcase the remarkable depth of academic achievement and dedication within our school. However, every student who has completed the IB diploma has showcased extraordinary commitment and a wide range of skills. These results are a testament to the supportive community at St. Peter’s and the tireless efforts of our staff.”
Deputy Principal, Amy Featonby said, “The IB Diploma Programme is a remarkable qualification which allows students to study six subjects concurrently, three at Higher level and three at Standard level, with one subject from each of the following groups: Literature, Mathematics, Sciences, Individuals and Societies, Language Acquisition, and the Arts. It equips students not only with a broad and deep knowledge base but also with critical thinking, collaboration, and a global perspective—skills essential for higher education and beyond.
"What’s truly special is the journey itself: the hard work, the camaraderie within the cohort, and the joy of learning together. These students leave us not just with excellent qualifications but with the confidence and readiness to embrace the next stage of their lives.
“It is such an honour to support students with their IBDP journey as an IB teacher and/or EE supervisor- this really is such a special part of a teacher's role here at St. Peter's.”
The range of courses and destinations for this IB cohort is varied and exciting with students hoping to attend universities overseas in the USA or UK, while some students are looking to secure placements closer to home in Australia and New Zealand. With varied interests, this cohort of graduates are passionate about studying a wide range of disciplines, including the sciences, medicine, mathematics, social sciences, languages and law.
Acting Head of School, Julie Small said, “We’re incredibly proud of the results of our 2024 IB cohort, and I’d especially like to thank our teaching staff for their passion and dedication to their IB subjects, and parents and caregivers for supporting their children throughout their time at St. Peter’s. Of course, Zach, has been a phenomenal student and we are especially proud of his achievement as the first ever IB St. Peter’s student to attain 45!
We wish our IB students every success for their future endeavours.”
St. Peter’s School remains committed to nurturing academic excellence and preparing students for success on the global stage.