 Education Professor John Hattie described the progress as "stunning" and an example of "what can happen with inspired, passionate leadership with a laser focus on students".In 2016, the principal Sheryll Ofner won the 2017 Woolf Fisher Award for Education and Excellence which included an 11 week trip to Harvard University and across Europe.On 16 September 2016 four Selwyn College students had won the Auckland Schools Debating Advanced Open Competition.