Founded in Queenstown in January 2018, we offer exciting educational experiences for children of all ages, specializing in academic and creative excellence in out-of-school programs across the Wakatipu Basin.
The Academy provides a range of exciting and stimulating educational experiences for children of various ages.
The combination of experienced teachers and small-group teaching provides an immersive educational environment enabling children to make rapid progress.
The Academy is not governed by a set curriculum. So we can respond to your child's needs, creating new programmes across a diverse range of subjects.
Learning plans for years 1-8
1-on-1 attention in small groups
Hands-on project-based learning
Real-world skills development (leadership and critical thinking)
Social interaction and academic growth in a supportive environment
“I don’t think there are any words that can truely describe how grateful we are. He has not only improved academically but also in confidence, thanks to the safe and encouraging learning space.”
We offer a flexible curriculum so we can respond to your child's needs, based on topics that inspire and motivate and which require the children to use a wide range of complementary skills.
Open afternoons and evenings every week for a full term
Half or full-day options depending on the student’s schedule
Designed to complement school learning - not replace it
Each child’s educational journey is as unique as their fingerprint. That’s why we offer specialised extension and support for the English and Maths curriculum at an individual level, catering to students who seek exceptional learning experiences beyond the conventional classroom.
The Academy complements traditional schooling by providing children with the opportunity to deepen their love of learning in a supportive, small-group setting. With tailored 1:1 guidance and engaging, hands-on lessons, our experienced teachers help students work to their strengths across a range of academic subjects.
By introducing new topics and approaches that are often difficult to deliver in a busy classroom, The Academy offers an environment where academic learning is at the heart—but with the flexibility, space, and creativity to think outside the box. Students are empowered to take ownership of their learning and develop skills they can carry with them throughout their educational journey and beyond.
Not at all—in fact, it’s designed to support and strengthen them. The Academy allows children to learn at their own pace while exploring key areas of the New Zealand Curriculum. Whether your child attends school full-time or is homeschooled, our hands-on, creative approach helps build core academic skills and deepen understanding. In many cases, the work students do at The Academy complements what they’re learning at school and can even lead to improved confidence and achievement in the classroom.
Our free academic assessment provides a helpful starting point to understand your child’s current level and identify both strengths and areas for development. While it offers just a snapshot of their learning, it allows us to begin building a clear picture of their academic and emotional needs.
During the assessment, your child will complete a short set of tasks, and we’ll also take the opportunity to chat with both you and your child. This helps us understand your goals, what’s brought you to The Academy, and how we can best support your child.
After the session, you’ll receive a detailed summary of our observations, along with recommendations on which programmes or groups would suit your child best. It’s worth noting that for many children, the social aspect of learning is just as important as the academic—and we take both into account when making suggestions. At The Academy, we tailor our approach to meet each child’s unique needs.
This depends on your preference and what we believe is best for your child, taking into account their academic, social, and emotional needs. Some children attend school full-time and join us for one day a week, while others who are homeschooled may attend more frequently.
We take a case-by-case approach and will discuss options with you during the enrolment process. Most of our students attend one to two full days per week, typically from 8:45am to 2:45pm.
At this stage, we do not offer a full-time option. This is mainly due to the wide range of ages we support and our commitment to maintaining small group sizes. Our goal is to make The Academy accessible to as many children as possible while ensuring each student receives quality attention and support. For now, this model works best as a part-time offering.
Our group sizes typically range from 4 to 10 children. This allows us to create a supportive, collaborative environment while still ensuring each child receives individual attention and the opportunity to thrive.
We use a wide variety of resources to support learning and keep children engaged. These include laptops, iPads, online learning platforms, worksheets, books, whiteboards, arts and crafts materials, and hands-on maths tools. Our goal is to provide a rich, multi-sensory learning environment that caters to different learning styles and encourages creativity and curiosity.
We're happy to answer any questions and hear your thoughts and ideas.
