Key facts
- School number4541
- School typeFull Primary · Years 1–8
- AuthorityCharter School
- GenderCo-Educational
- BoardingNo
- Established2 February 2026
About The Forest School
The Forest School is a nature-based, Reggio Emilia-inspired primary school in New Zealand. It was co-founded in 2016 by Tennille Murdoch and Gavin Murdoch, who describe their starting point as a personal decision to move away from conventional classroom learning, initially for their own child.
The school began as a private, fee-paying one-day school and operated in that form for approximately ten years, during which time it reports that more than 6,000 children participated in its programmes. It has since transitioned to become what it describes as the country's first government-funded, nature-based primary school, with full-time operation beginning in Term 1, 2026.
The school holds a Māori name, Te Rongotaiao, meaning "learning through all the senses." Its stated curriculum balances explicit instruction in literacy and numeracy with inquiry, play, and hands-on experiences. The school keeps class sizes small and describes its measure of student success as encompassing academic progress, wellbeing, emotional intelligence, and relationships.
The school's stated values, grouped under the name GROW, centre on connection to nature, relationships and belonging, curiosity and wonder, and a holistic view of child development.
Enrolment
No enrolment scheme listedNo enrolment scheme is currently listed for The Forest School in the available Ministry of Education data. Check the current Ministry of Education information or contact the school for the latest enrolment arrangements.
Equity Index
The Ministry publishes this figure as a bare number — KuraData shows it against the directory-wide average, so you can see where The Forest School actually sits, not just the number on its own.
The Equity Index estimates the socio-economic barriers students face, on average, and is used to inform government funding and support. It is not a measure of school quality or academic performance.
Higher values indicate a higher level of estimated socio-economic barriers; lower values indicate fewer. Learn how the Equity Index is calculated →
Education pathway
Nearby schools serving the next or previous year levels are shown as potential pathway options. They do not indicate formal enrolment pathways or actual student transfers.
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Wentworth College Secondary · Years 7–15 · 10.2 km
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Albany Senior High School Secondary · Years 11–15 · 18.8 km
Location
- Street address605 Hibiscus Coast Highway
- SuburbWaiwera
- CityOrewa
- Local authorityHibiscus and Bays Local Board Area
Official contact details
- ContactTennille Murdoch
- Websitewww.theforest.school.nz/
Nearby schools
Schools physically closest to The Forest School, regardless of year level.
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KingsWay School Composite · Years 1–15 · 5.2 km
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Wentworth College Secondary · Years 7–15 · 10.2 km
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Gulf Harbour School Contributing · Years 1–6 · 10.6 km
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City Impact Church School Composite · Years 1–15 · 18.1 km
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Albany Senior High School Secondary · Years 11–15 · 18.8 km
Explore schools in Orewa
Browse Orewa schools by type, including primary, intermediate, secondary, composite and other schools.
Curriculum
The Forest School's approved Distinguishing Character under the Education and Training Act 2020 is "Immersive Outdoor Education Where Nature Is Our Classroom." Learning takes place primarily in natural environments across all seasons, with children spending no less than four hours outdoors each day. The school holds Enviroschool status.
The school's curriculum covers the following areas:
- Literacy — structured, explicit teaching of speaking, listening, reading, writing, and spelling through evidence-based programmes, alongside a Reggio Emilia approach to literature including daily read-alouds, journaling, and book making
- Numeracy — explicitly taught daily
- Social Emotional Learning — taught with explicit intention, covering character and social competencies
- Inquiry — woven across learning areas, emerging from play, student questions, or points of interest
- Science and Environment — hands-on exploration in bush and beach settings; sustainable practices including growing food, pest plant management, and waste reduction, in partnership with organisations such as Forest & Bird, Garden to Table, and Restore Hibiscus & Bays
Technology is used only for purposeful research or creative work. Children are otherwise device-free during the school day.
Frequently asked
These aren't generic answers — each one is built directly from The Forest School's own official Ministry of Education data already shown on this page, so what you read here always matches the figures above.
Sources & methodology
Every fact on this page traces back to one of the rows below — official Ministry of Education data, or The Forest School's own published information, reviewed before publication. Nothing here is inferred or estimated beyond what its source actually states.
| Data | Source | Data period | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| School characteristics | Ministry of Education | — | 7 September 2026 |
| Student roll | Ministry of Education / Education Counts | — | 7 September 2026 |
| Equity Index | Education Counts | — | 7 September 2026 |
| Address & coordinates | Ministry of Education | — | 7 September 2026 |
| Contact details | NZ Schools Directory | Current | 7 September 2026 |
| School information (AI-curated, human-reviewed) | The Forest School's official website | Current | 20 September 2026 |