Pinehurst School, Albany (Auckland)

Key facts

About Pinehurst School

Pinehurst School is an independent, non-profit school located in Auckland, New Zealand. It was founded in 1990 by Peter Davies and a group of associates, opening with 34 students. The school's first principal was Sherida Penman Walters.

The school operates across both primary and secondary levels, covering Year 1 through Year 13, and uses the Cambridge curriculum throughout. In 2022, Pinehurst was designated as New Zealand's Cambridge Demonstration Centre, a status recognising its organisation and implementation of the Cambridge academic programme.

The school is governed by a Board of Governors and supported by the Pinehurst Trust and Society. It is an accredited employer with New Zealand Immigration.

Curriculum

Primary (Years 1–6)

Literacy is taught using a phonics-based reading approach and the VCOP framework (Vocabulary, Connectives, Openers and Punctuation) for writing. Numeracy follows the Cambridge Primary Mathematics programme. The school day is divided into six periods, with students placed in single-year-level classes.

Specialist-taught subjects include:

• Music
• Art
• Science and STEM
• Physical Education
• Global Perspectives
• Mandarin and Spanish (from Year 1)

All primary students take part in PREP (Primary Enterprise Programme), a hands-on business design activity. Cambridge Checkpoint assessments in English, Mathematics, and Science are sat at the end of Year 6.

College (Years 7–13)

Pinehurst follows the Cambridge International curriculum pathway rather than NCEA. The sequence of qualifications is:

• Cambridge Checkpoint (end of Year 9) — assessed in English, Mathematics, and Science
• IGCSE (Years 10–11) — compulsory subjects are English Language, English Literature, and Mathematics, with additional subjects chosen by students; examinations sit at the end of Year 11
• AS Levels (Year 12) — students typically take four or five subjects
• A Levels (Year 13) — students typically take four or five subjects

Cambridge assessments are primarily externally set and marked examinations, with some subjects including a coursework component. Examinations are marked in the UK. AS and A Level results are recognised by all New Zealand universities as well as universities internationally.

Co-curricular Activities

Sports

The following sports are offered at Pinehurst School:

• Athletics
• Badminton
• Basketball
• Climbing
• Football & Futsal
• Golf
• Gymnastics & Gym Sports
• Hockey
• Netball
• Orienteering
• Snow Sports
• Table Tennis
• Tennis
• Touch Rugby
• Volleyball
• Water Polo & Splash Polo

Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award

Pinehurst School participates in the Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award across three levels. The Bronze Award is compulsory for all Year 10 students; the Silver and Gold Awards are optional and open to students in Years 11–13. Each level involves components in voluntary service, physical recreation, skills, and an adventurous journey. Gold Award participants also complete a Residential Project.

• Bronze Award — practice camp at Tawharanui (Term 1); qualifying camp on Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands (Term 4)
• Silver Award — practice camp in the Hunua Ranges (March); qualifying camp location to be confirmed (September)
• Gold Award — practice camp at Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park (April); qualifying camp on the Heaphy Track, Kahurangi National Park (November)