Charter school maps out future
Queenstown's Atlas High School will open with 100 students next year, if all goes to plan.
Head of School Daniel Cooper says the charter school would be a community-owned, not-for-profit, fees-free high school, offering an alternative to the ever-growing Wakatipu High School.
The Atlas school roll would be capped at 220 students after three years, taught through an innovative curriculum that combines NZ Curriculum and NCEA pathways with experiential learning, preparing them to navigate an ever-changing world.
Cooper and his team are finalising an application for the current round of charter school funding, after being invited to submit by the Charter School Authorisation Board, following an expression of interest process. A decision is expected by September.
"For the first time in Queenstown’s history, we have the opportunity to provide a genuine choice in fees-free secondary education," Cooper says.
"Our model approaches the New Zealand curriculum and NCEA differently compared to state-schools. By providing something different, we can give families real choice. Our aim is to provide another excellent option for secondary education in our district."
Charter schools are another type of state-funded school, providing educators with more freedom to choose their curriculum and how the school operates, with the expectation they achieve high standards. The concept has been reintroduced by the Coalition Government, offering 10-year contracts, with options to extend.
Cooper is principal at Queenstown's Liger Leadership Academy, which will close at the end of 2025. Backed a Queenstown community organisation (announcement coming soon), Atlas has secured Liger's extensive intellectual property, network, and physical assets.
"This gives Atlas High School an unprecedented starting position: a fully developed, operational model ready to open its doors with momentum and credibility," Cooper says.
Liger's model has been adapted and the overall aim is to foster engagement and agency in the students, connecting them with local leaders and industry experts, with lots of learning off-site, mentorship and exploratory projects.
"We aim to move students beyond passive learning towards becoming curious, engaged, and adaptable."
North Island's Manawaroa Education was involved in the plans at an early stage, but has now stepped back, so Atlas will be a Queenstown-created charter school, run by Cooper who has extensive experience in international schools, including prestigious United Nations International School of Hanoi, where he coordinated the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme.
Liger operates from premises in Frankton, but Atlas plans to move and is in discussions about finding a new home.
"We are working extremely hard on finding a permanent campus, with a number of sites in the mix," Cooper says.
Cooper has already presented the plans to parents at Shotover Primary School last Monday, and reached out to other schools. Atlas has already had 75 expressions of interest from local families.
Parents can register their interest at www.atlasqueenstown.org
