[citation needed] The school was founded in 1911 as Craighead School by Dunedin sisters Eleanor, Fanny, Elizabeth, and Anna Shand.

The school's name comes from the house which was its first building, built in 1875 in the then-countryside outside Timaru.

The house was named Craighead in 1890 by new owner Henry Le Cren, after his brother-in-law's Scottish castle.

After 15 years of teaching, the sisters retired, and the running of the school was taken over by the Anglican Church.

From an initial roll of 11 day students and six boarders, the school has grown to a maximum role of 380 as of 2011.