New Zealand's First Dedicated Sports School NZPAA Set To Open

The country’s first dedicated sports school, New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa (NZPAA), will open next week. (February 2nd)

The new charter school is based at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS) in Upper Hutt and caters for Year 11–13 students.

Students come from a wide range of sporting backgrounds, including volleyball, cricket, basketball, rugby, touch, rugby league, football, softball, lawn bowls, athletics and floorball.

NZPAA offers a world-class high-performance sporting environment alongside a rigorous academic programme, with individualised plans tailored to each student. “It’s a new model for Aotearoa,” said CEO Karen van Gemerden.

“While some schools have sports academies, selection processes are competitive whereas NZPAA is open to anyone.”

Principal Ryan Clark said “academic achievement remains the priority, but the flexible timetable allows students to undertake trainings when they need to.

“We follow the curriculum, with NCEA and have our professional development for teachers, everything you see at other schools, the only difference is we offer flexibility.”

“It’s exciting to be able to provide that flexibility to allow students to achieve at a high level in both sport and academics.”

Many students are also from outside the Wellington region and will board at the facility.

Ms van Gemerden said NZPAA “is first and foremost a school.”

“This is all about choice. For many the only option to attend a school like this currently would be in a private school setting and a lot of families simply can’t afford that.

“NZPAA gives parents the free specialist education they are seeking for their children in a state system.”

“We have individualised plans for each student that balances their academic and sporting goals.”

There are three pillars to the school – academia, sport and personal development.

“Developing discipline, leadership, resilience, and teamwork skills helps ensure well being and mental strength and for anyone that’s wanting to excel in a sport in a professional capacity, those are all vitally important.”

Students will have four hours of academic classes a day and two hours for training or additional study.

“We aim to produce top athletes who’ll represent New Zealand around the world and that’s a hugely exciting prospect,” said Mr Clark.

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