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Ardmore Flying School Ltd

Private Training Establishments · Aviation · Ardmore

A coeducational state secondary school for Years 7–13, located in Methven, Mid Canterbury. Its roll has remained around 500 students over recent years, drawing approximately 60% of learners from the wider Mid Canterbury district; the school traces its origins to the Methven School, established in 1882.

Last checked 14 September 2026

Jump to: About · Courses · Admissions · International students · Student support · Accommodation · Facilities

At a glance

TypePrivate Training Establishments
LocationArdmore
RegionAuckland Region
Provider informationKuraData curated
Ministry ID8638

About Ardmore Flying School Ltd

Mount Hutt College is a Year 7–13 coeducational state school located in Methven, Mid Canterbury. It has operated on its current site since 1882, beginning as the Methven School, becoming Methven District High School in 1925, then Methven High School in 1969, and taking its current name in 1997 to reflect the wider catchment it serves.

The school's roll has remained around 500 students over recent years. Approximately 40% of students come from Methven itself, with the remaining 60% drawn from across the Mid Canterbury district, including Ashburton, Rakaia, Mayfield, Mount Somers/Springburn, and surrounding areas. The school forms a Kāhui Ako – Community of Learning with the majority of these contributing schools.

The school's community is predominantly rural, with agriculture — dairy, arable, and livestock farming — forming a significant part of the local economy. This is reflected in the school's programmes, which include an Agriculture Academy and a Teen Ag club. The surrounding environment also shapes the school's offering: Outdoor Education runs at Years 11–13, and a Wednesday Sport and Recreation programme makes use of local opportunities including snowsports, mountain biking, and tramping.

7% of students identify as Māori. The school has connections with Hakatere Marae and a developing partnership with Kāti Huirapa and Kai Tahu. The school also has a notable Filipino community presence, alongside students of Japanese, Chinese, Tongan, German, and South African heritage.

The school is not faith-based or Māori-medium. Its stated values framework, called PRIDE (Passion, Respect, Integrity, Diversity, Excellence for All), underpins its behaviour and pastoral systems, which are aligned with the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) approach. A restorative approach to conflict and behaviour is the school's stated preference over punitive responses.

Programmes and Qualifications

Ardmore Flying School offers the following named programmes and qualifications:

  • Private Pilot Licence (PPL) — licence — flexible (full-time or part-time)
  • Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) — licence — flexible (full-time or part-time)
  • Instrument Rating (IR) — rating — approximately five months full-time, or part-time
  • Biennial Flight Review (BFR) — review — one or more flights
  • Conversion of an Overseas Licence — licence conversion
  • NZ Diploma in Aviation (General Aviation) — Level 5 diploma — approximately 74 weeks total
  • Aviation Security Awareness — e-learning course — minimum 2 hours
  • Dangerous Goods Training — e-learning course — minimum 3 hours
  • Dangerous Goods Awareness Fiji — e-learning course (CAAF approved) — minimum 3 hours
  • Crew Resource Management (CRM) — e-learning course — approximately 3 hours
  • Command CRM — e-learning course — approximately 40 minutes (supplementary to CRM course)
  • Human Factors Ground Crew — e-learning course

Enrolment

Ardmore Flying School's application process involves nine steps, from an initial eligibility check through to a formal orientation session.

Eligibility requirements

Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of application and meet an English language proficiency requirement. The minimum academic qualification is NCEA Level 2, including English, Maths, and Science. Physics is noted as desirable but not required. Any additional tertiary results may also be submitted.

Required documents

Applications must include the following:

  • Recent NCEA results and any additional tertiary education results
  • Résumé and cover letter
  • Copy of passport
  • An ADAPT test result (must be less than two years old)
  • Logbook of previous flying, if applicable — prior experience is only recognised if completed in an ICAO-approved course, subject to review by the Chief Flight Instructor or CAA New Zealand

Applications are submitted by email to enrolments@ardmore.co.nz or by post to Enrolments, Ardmore Flying School, PO Box 72-744, Papakura, Auckland 2244.

Selection and placement

Shortlisted applicants are invited to a New Student Selection Day, which includes a maths and logical reasoning test, a Good Aviation Practice (GAP) assessment, and an interview with a senior flight instructor. Successful candidates must then provide a Class 1 medical certificate to be placed on a programme waiting list. A formal offer of placement and training agreement is issued when a place becomes available.

Fees and enrolment deadline

On accepting an offer, applicants sign the training agreement and pay the first instalment of fees as specified in that contract. Applicants using a student loan via Studylink must apply online at least two weeks before the programme starts. All enrolment steps must be completed at least two weeks before course commencement.

Orientation

A formal orientation is held on the Friday before classes begin. Family and friends are welcome to attend.

Subject area: Aviation

The Ministry of Education groups Ardmore Flying School Ltd under Aviation — the broad field of education and training it's classified under in the official tertiary directory.

Aviation

Address

Where Ardmore Flying School Ltd is based, taken directly from the Ministry of Education's own address record for this provider.

  • StreetArdmore Airfield
  • CityArdmore
  • Postcode2244
  • Territorial authorityAuckland - Franklin
  • RegionAuckland Region

No coordinates are published for tertiary providers in this dataset, so no map is shown here.

Contact Ardmore Flying School Ltd

Find the published contact details for Ardmore Flying School Ltd, including its phone number, website and other available contact information.

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Contact details combine official Ministry of Education records with information published on Ardmore Flying School Ltd's own website, reviewed by the KuraData team on 14 September 2026.

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International Student Information

Ardmore Flying School Ltd, established in 1961, is accredited by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) as an approved Private Training Establishment (PTE) and by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAANZ). It offers the New Zealand Diploma in Aviation, delivered through the Professional Airline Pilots Programme.

Enrolment criteria for international students

In addition to the standard domestic criteria, international applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Be 18 years of age or over
  • Hold evidence, gained within the last two years, of an IELTS score of 5.5 or higher with no subpart below 5.0, or an equivalent score from another internationally recognised English proficiency test
  • Meet further English language proficiency requirements under rule 18.3 of the NZQF Programme Approval and Accreditation Rules

Fees

Course fees cover flying fees, landing and airport fees, programme equipment, theory courses, flight and theory tests and examinations, administration fees, and optionally accommodation. International students are also required to pay an international fee and the cost of medical and travel insurance. No specific fee figures are published on the school's website; prospective students are directed to contact the enrolment team at +64 9 298-5055 or info@ardmore.co.nz.

Visa

International students studying full time in New Zealand require a student visa. A Fee Paying Student Visa permits full-time study and part-time work of up to 20 hours per week. Immigration New Zealand requires evidence of at least $20,000 per year in living funds, plus a return airfare or an additional $2,000.

Living costs

The school estimates that international students will need between $20,000 and $25,000 per year ($380–$480 per week) to cover accommodation, food, transport, phone, internet, and entertainment in Auckland.

Support services

Each student is assigned a personal instructor who acts as a first point of contact for both training and pastoral matters. The school also refers students to the Peer Assistance Network (PAN), a confidential peer support service accessible by calling 0800 NZALPA. Accommodation can be arranged prior to arrival and is located approximately five minutes from the training centre.

Student Support and Pastoral Care

Mount Hutt College provides the following named student support services:

  • Learning Support Coordinator — a full-time position focused on helping students with transition between schools and into the workforce, coordinating interventions including individual reading support, group numeracy support, teacher aide deployment, programme adaptations, and liaison with outside agencies for students with specialist needs.
  • Special Assessment Conditions (SAC) — supports approved by NZQA for students whose learning, medical, physical, or psychological needs significantly affect their ability to access assessments fairly. Supports can include reader/writer assistance, computer use, extra time, separate accommodation, and rest breaks.
  • Deans — involved in formal complaint and restorative meeting processes for students raising concerns or complaints.
  • Wellbeing Professionals — available to students through a self-referral process, including a meet-and-greet format where students may bring a support person.
  • Kaiāwhina — named alongside deans as a point of contact for students making formal complaints or seeking support.

Student Accommodation

Ardmore Flying School provides student accommodation in four-bedroom townhouses. Each house includes shared communal living spaces, private bedrooms, a washing machine, furniture, cutlery, and linen. Electrical power, water, and internet are included. A complimentary van service runs between the houses and the main aerodrome building, and also covers exam and medical appointments.

Two room types are available:

Room type Weekly rent Utilities levy
Single room $305 $25.00
Master room or sleepout (with ensuite) $355 $25.00

Both domestic and international students may be housed together. The school operates under the Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners code, which sets requirements for accommodation safety and inclusive communities.

Facilities

The following named facility is described in available school information.

  • Library — open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 3:10 pm, including most first and second lunch breaks. First lunch is restricted to quiet activities such as homework, reading, and board games.

Curated by the KuraData team from Ardmore Flying School Ltd's own website, reviewed 14 September 2026.

Data source