Message from the Principal

Dear parents,

Thank you for taking the time to learn about The Academy.

Our team have founded this school because we believe young people are capable of extraordinary things when they are given expert teaching, meaningful challenges and enough time to pursue work of real substance. I want students to be excited to come to school each day, both by what they will learn in their lessons and by the opportunity to continue working on projects that matter to them and challenge them intellectually.

Throughout my career in secondary and tertiary education, I have worked with students progressing from school into demanding university programmes and competitive industries. I have seen how strongly their success depends on the foundations established during their school years. Secure subject knowledge matters, but so do perseverance, intellectual curiosity, confidence and the ability to communicate clearly.

The Academy has been designed around these foundations.

We will be a deliberately small, academically rigorous school, with a maximum roll of 140 students and only 20 students at each year level. This will allow every student to be known well, challenged appropriately and supported by teachers who are experts in their subjects. They will also be surrounded by peers who share their interests and love to learn.

Our students will receive a deep and rigorous grounding in Science, Mathematics, English and Technology. They will also have dedicated time to investigate difficult questions, undertake ambitious projects and create work they are proud to share. We want students to experience the satisfaction that comes from persisting with something difficult, responding thoughtfully to feedback and gradually developing genuine mastery.

Academic achievement is important, but it is not sufficient on its own. We want our students to become principled, capable young people who act with integrity, perseverance, excellence, courage, humility and empathy. These virtues will shape the culture of the school and the way we approach learning, relationships and responsibility.

The Academy is being created by people with deep experience in education, science and technology. Together, we have the opportunity to build a school with a clear purpose, strong foundations and no inherited routines that do not serve student learning. Every decision we make begins with a simple question: how will this help our students learn and grow?

Our first students will join us in Titirangi in 2028. Families who join our founding cohort will become part of a close community and help establish a culture that will shape The Academy for many years to come.

I invite you to explore our educational programme, learn about our people and consider whether The Academy could be the right school for your child. I look forward to welcoming families to the school and sharing more of what we are building.

Tristan O'Hanlon

Founding Principal