Epsom Girls' Grammar School


Epsom Girls Grammar School is a state secondary school for girls ranging from years 9 to 13 in Auckland, New Zealand. It has a roll of 2,200 as of 2025, making it one of the largest schools in New Zealand.
The principal is Brenda McNaughton, the 12th principal, who succeeded Lorraine Pound in 2024. She succeeds a long line of distinguished educators such as Margaret Bendall and Marjory Adams.
WWW eggs.school.nzIG epsomgirlsgrammarschool

History

Epsom Girls Grammar School was established through an endowment of land in 1850 and officially opened on 12 February 1917 with 174 students. Establishing Epsom Girls was described as a "struggle", as "despite a clear need for a second girls’ school in Auckland, education administrators continued to prioritise boys’ education. Eventually EGGS emerged as an old, adapted Villa and a handful of classrooms on the Silver Road site. When the doors opened in 1917 the School had already exceeded capacity."
Boarding facilities are provided on-site at Epsom House, providing full accommodation for 150 students from overseas and rural New Zealand.
The Old Girls Association was established in 1921, and holds a number of events each year for alumnae.
In 2021, Metro (magazine) reported that Epsom Girls Grammar School was the top performing non-religious state school in Auckland over the last five years.
Property prices in the Epsom Girls Grammar School and Auckland Grammar School school zones are particularly high - Epsom Girls is the second most expensive school zone to buy in within Auckland. The zone covers large swathes of four of the city’s highest value suburbs – Remuera, Epsom, Parnell and Mount Eden. Real estate agents have commented that being in the "double Grammar zone" could add up to $500,000 to the value of a family home.

Enrolment

As of, Epsom Girls' Grammar School has a roll of students, of which identify as Māori.
As of, the school has an Equity Index of, placing it amongst schools whose students have the socioeconomic barriers to achievement.

Principals

  • Annie Christina Morrison 1917–1929
  • Agnes L. Laudon 1930–1947
  • Margaret G. Johnston 1948–1952
  • Marjory F.E. Adams 1953–1970
  • Alisa M. Blakey 1970–1979
  • Gaewyn E. Griffiths 1979–1988
  • Verna E. Dowdle 1988–1996
  • Margaret A. Bendall 1996–2004
  • Annette Sharp 2005–2008
  • Madeline J. Gunn 2008–2016
  • Lorraine Pound 2016–2023
  • Brenda McNaughton 2024–present

Notable alumnae

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Public service and law
Science
Sport