Founder Updates

Sherida Penman Walters

Thank you for coming along to the term conferences. Attending these is a requirement in our enrolment contracts because they are the best way for parents to get up-to-date assessment information and talk with teachers about strategies to support continued improvement.

We’ve just completed another Charter School Audit and are pleased that recent testing shows ongoing improvement in Reading, Writing and Maths across the school. We congratulate our excellent teachers for their expertise and the support they give our students.

We’ve received many enrolment applications and have decided to increase our Year 7 classes to three, with 60 students in total. In 2027, Year 7 and 8 students will be based at the current Universal Drive building, while Years 9, 10 and 11 will be in the new building on the corner of Universal Drive. We will move into the new building in early December 2026.

We’re also looking into transport options. It is likely that we will contract a company to run the Waimauku, Kumeu and Riverhead bus service. Our current bus and vans may then be used to serve other areas of the North West. We’ll keep you informed as this develops.

We’re making very good progress with the introduction of the Cambridge International Education curriculum. Students are getting used to the expectations, and teachers are appreciating the professional development and support available through CIE. Our first formal Year 10 examinations will take place this term to help students become familiar with the examination setting and expectations.

Ken Pemberton

Sherida Penman Walters

Our roll has now reached 151 students, with only a small number of places remaining. We expect to reach our current capacity of 160 students before the end of the year. We are incredibly grateful for the confidence so many families continue to place in our school, and it is a pleasure to welcome new students and whānau into our growing community.

The interest in North West College for 2027 has been overwhelming. We have received applications across every year level and have already reached capacity for Years 8, 9, 10 and 11. We are currently enjoying meeting with prospective Year 7 families as part of our enrolment consultation process and look forward to welcoming many of them into our community next year.

To help meet this demand, we are exploring the possibility of opening an additional Year 7 class in 2027. This would allow us to have three Year 7 classes of approximately 20 students each while continuing our carefully planned growth towards an eventual roll of around 420 students. As always, our priority is ensuring every student receives the personalised learning and strong relationships that are central to the North West College experience.

Our plans for 2027 include bringing our entire school together on one campus at 199 Universal Drive. This is an exciting milestone for North West College and will provide a purpose-built learning environment where all year levels can learn alongside one another.

Our Year 7 and 8 students will be based in our existing Universal Drive building, where they will continue to enjoy a programme similar to this year, with academic learning each morning, Creative Arts on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons, and Sport and Outdoor Education on Wednesday afternoons. Students will also access our new learning spaces for specialist subjects, making full use of the outstanding facilities available across our integrated campus.

Work on our new building at 199 Universal Drive continues to make fantastic progress. It has been exciting to watch our vision come to life, and we are looking forward to moving into the new facilities in early December. This will ensure everything is ready for the start of the 2027 school year, when our entire school community comes together on one campus for the first time.

As our school grows, so does our team. We are currently recruiting additional teachers for 2027 and have been delighted by the calibre of educators who are interested in joining us. It is encouraging to see so many talented teachers who share our vision and are excited about helping shape the future of North West College.

We are also pleased to let you know that Minister David Seymour visited North West College at midday on Thursday, 13 August. During his visit, he toured our new building and made an announcement about charter schools. While students continued with their usual learning programme, a small group of student leaders had the opportunity to accompany the Minister during his visit.

As many of you know, charter schools continue to be part of the national conversation. We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support we receive from our families and wider community. If you feel comfortable doing so, we encourage you to share your experiences with your local election candidates. Hearing directly from families about the positive impact North West College has had on their children is one of the most powerful ways our story can be told.

Ken Pemberton

Dear North West College Families,

As we reach the end of another busy and rewarding term, Ken and I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your continued support of North West College.

It has been wonderful to see our College community continue to grow and flourish. Both our Lincoln Road and Universal Drive campuses are working exceptionally well, and it is fantastic to see our students embracing new opportunities, building their confidence, and enjoying their learning.

This term has been another significant milestone for the College, with our roll reaching our target of 150 students across Years 7 to 10. We are also looking ahead with great excitement as we prepare for the next stage of our journey. At the end of this year, we will farewell our Lincoln Road campus as we transition into our purpose-built facilities, marking another exciting chapter in the growth of North West College.

Our teaching team continues to work tirelessly as they deliver the Cambridge International Education curriculum. As this programme is new to many of our staff, they have dedicated countless hours to professional learning, planning and collaboration to ensure our students receive the highest quality education possible.

By now, families will have received their child’s mid-year report and had the opportunity to attend Parent-Teacher Conferences. These conversations are an important part of each student’s learning journey, providing valuable feedback on their progress and helping families understand how they can support learning at home. We greatly value the strong partnership we share with our parents and caregivers.

Our recent Creative Arts Expos were a wonderful celebration of the creativity, talent and dedication of our students. It was a pleasure to see so many families attend and celebrate the outstanding work being produced across our Creative Arts programme. As the programme continues to expand in both variety and expertise, we are excited about plans to showcase our students’ work through exhibitions at local libraries in the near future.

For our Years 9 and 10 students, this term also marked the release of their first Cambridge interim grades. We understand that receiving these results can feel both exciting and a little daunting. It is important to remember that these grades are simply a starting point, providing valuable feedback to guide future learning. Our teachers are working closely with students to build on their strengths, identify areas for growth, and support every learner to continue making excellent progress.

Work is progressing well on our new campus development on the corner of Universal Drive. We are excited that from 2027, our Years 9, 10 and 11 students will be learning in these outstanding new facilities, while our Years 7 and 8 students will continue at our current Universal Drive campus.

Looking ahead to Term 3, Sherida will begin enrolment consultations for students wishing to join our 2027 Year 7 cohort. We currently have 15 pre-enrolled students, along with sibling applicants who receive priority placement. We have also received a significant number of applications for the remaining places, with consultations taking place in the order applications were received.

We are also delighted to announce the launch of our Itinerant Music Programme for Years 7 and 8, beginning in Term 3, 2026. This exciting addition will provide students with the opportunity to learn an instrument through specialist tuition during the school day. We look forward to expanding the programme to all year levels in 2027.

As we reflect on how much has been achieved since North West College first opened its doors in February 2025, we feel incredibly proud of everything our students, staff and families have accomplished together. The growth of our College has been remarkable, and we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. Thank you for being part of our journey and for the encouragement, trust and support you continue to show our school community.

We wish you all a safe, restful and enjoyable holiday break and look forward to welcoming everyone back for another exciting term.

Warm regards,

Sherida Penman Walters
Co-Founder and Advisory Board Chair

Ken Pemberton
Co-Founder and Business Manager

We are delighted to share the continued progress of North West College and to have begun 2026 on such a positive note.

Starting with 22 students in February 2025, we have grown to 143 students in February 2026, placing us very close to capacity. This level of growth is incredibly encouraging and reflects the strength of our vision – combining academic excellence with creative arts – alongside the quality of the programmes we are delivering.

We have also been very fortunate in our staff appointments throughout 2025 and into 2026, attracting highly qualified teachers, specialists, and tutors who are not only experts in their fields but are deeply passionate about both their subjects and our school community.

Our 2025 students made very positive progress across all subject areas, and we are confident this strong trajectory will continue throughout 2026.

A significant milestone has been securing the lease of the buildings on the corner of Universal Drive and Central Park Drive. Our Year 9 and 10 students are now settled into classrooms at 199 Universal Drive, and both students and staff have been impressed with the new facilities.

Looking ahead, the new building currently under construction has been thoughtfully designed as our “forever school”. We are excited to share that the entire school is planned to transition there in December 2026, ready for the 2027 school year.

In Term One, our staff have taken part in an intensive orientation programme designed to ensure consistency in both instruction and behaviour management across all year levels and both campuses. This comprehensive programme, led by Mrs Randles and Ms Oliver, has set a strong foundation for the years ahead.

We will also be holding a number of parent and family information meetings. These will be advertised on our website, and you will receive email communication with confirmed dates and times at least two weeks in advance.

We are pleased to advise that enrolment applications for Year 7, 2027 are now open. With only 40 places available, we encourage early applications to avoid disappointment.

We would also like to acknowledge the co-operation and support of Morrison Horticulture Limited, the owners of the buildings. Their support has been invaluable, and we are especially grateful for the ongoing assistance of Building Project Manager, Scotty Morrison, who has been incredibly accommodating throughout this process.

We look forward to continuing this strong momentum and building on the stellar progress already achieved as we move through 2026.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Warm regards,
Sherida and Ken

Acknowledgement

We acknowledge the co-operation and support of Morrison Horticulture Limited, the owners of the buildings. They have been incredibly accommodating, in particular Building Project Manager Scotty Morrison.

Happy New Year to our Wonderful North West College Community.

We are delighted with the ongoing progress of North West College to date. Starting with 22 students in February 2025, we have begun February 2026 with 144 students and are very close to capacity. This represents very pleasing growth and demonstrates our successful philosophy of combining academic excellence and creative arts, along with the quality of our programmes.

We have been very fortunate with our staff appointments through 2025 and into the beginning of 2026, attracting fully qualified, professional teacher specialists, teachers and tutors who are passionate about their subjects and the school. Our 2025 students made very positive progress in all of their subjects, and this will continue throughout 2026.

We have also been very fortunate to be able to lease the buildings on the corner of Universal Drive and Central Park Drive. Years 9 and 10 are now located in classrooms at 199 Universal Drive. The students and staff are very impressed with their new facilities. The corner building, currently under construction, has been designed for us as our forever school. The whole school will move there in December 2026, ready for the 2027 school year.

Over the last two weeks, our teaching staff have been involved in an intensive orientation programme designed to ensure consistency in instruction and behaviour management. Our school Principal, Mrs Randles and our Deputy Principal, Ms Oliver, have prepared a very extensive programme for them across all year levels over both sites.

We will be organising some parent/family information meetings. These will be listed on our website, and you will receive emails to inform you of dates and times at least two weeks in advance.

We will also be opening enrolment applications for Year 7 for 2027 from Term 2 2026. There are only 40 places available. If you have a sibling you wish to enrol in this cohort, please ensure you reach out to us before then. This is so we can prioritise our current students’ siblings before offering placements to new families.

We look forward to continuing our stellar progress throughout 2026. Thank you for your support.

Sherida and Ken

Acknowledgement

We acknowledge the co-operation and support of Morrison Horticulture Limited, the owners of the buildings. They have been incredibly accommodating, in particular Building Project Manager Scotty Morrison.