The original school course included English, French, Latin, German, drawing, singing and calisthenics.

[5] The original school building had classrooms on the ground floor, and rooms for the boarders upstairs.

It stood where the main hostel building, Hewett House, now stands.

[6] The entrance to the school hall features a large mural painting by renowned New Zealand artist, Rita Angus.

Matthews House accommodation opened in 1988, and contains single cubicles for senior girls.