Tōtara Point School

New Zealand, Auckland

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The school at a glance

Fees Fees not listed

Ages 5 - 11 years

Pupil numbers 90

Type Co-educational

Opened 2026

Bus Service No

Academic offering

Curriculum Cambridge (Primary)

Typical class size 20

Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, Academic Enrichment

Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Lifestyle and Wellbeing

Stages Primary School

Introduction

Tōtara Point School is a new, state-funded charter school in Auckland, open since January 2026 and located at Level 1, 303 Manukau Road, Epsom. It serves students aged 5 to 11 and starts with Years 1–5 in 2026, expanding to Years 1–6 in 2027, with around 20 students per year level and small teacher-to-student ratios. The curriculum is Cambridge Primary, delivered in a low-tech, high-engagement learning environment, with a structured literacy approach using the Spalding Method. A dedicated personal mentor meets each child fortnightly one-on-one, and termly mentor–parent meetings support continuity between school and home. The school maintains Catholic ethos at the heart of school life and includes a chapel for spiritual life, religious education, and values-based formation. Music, art, science, literature, mathematics, physical education, and wellbeing are integrated to create purposeful, calm, joyful learning. With small class sizes, staff collaboration, and a supportive community, families are welcomed to participate together.

Level 1, 303 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland 1023

Gallery

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The Essentials

Location

Level 1, 303 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand. Epsom is a residential suburb of Auckland.

Stages

Ages 5 to 11. Years 1–5 in 2026, expanding to Years 1–6 in 2027.

Type

The school is a state-funded charter school.

Country affiliation

New Zealand

Religious affiliation

Catholic

Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement

Uniforms are required; costs for uniforms are minimal.

Governance and Ownership

Tōtara Point School is a state-funded charter school approved by the Charter School Agency. It is not under diocesan governance; it operates independently while being publicly accountable and upholds Catholic teachings.

Fees

Application fees
- There are no application or enrolment fees required to apply to Tōtara Point School.

Tuition fees (by year group, per term and per year)
- Years 1–6: Compulsory tuition fees are NZD 0 per term and NZD 0 per year for every year group. The school is free to attend. (Years offered begin with Years 1–5 in 2026 and expand to Years 1–6 in 2027.)

Voluntary contributions / donations
- The school encourages families to make a voluntary donation each term. These donations are optional and not required for enrolment or attendance. The school does not publish a compulsory donation amount.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- There are no compulsory tuition bills to be issued because the school does not charge tuition. Voluntary donations are requested on a per-term basis (i.e., once each school term). Specific billing timing, due dates, and any terms that apply to voluntary contributions are determined and communicated by the school at the time of donation.

Boarding fees (if applicable)
- Boarding is not applicable. The school operates as a day primary school (Years 1–6). No boarding facilities or boarding fees are charged.

Other costs and fees
- Uniforms: Families may incur minimal costs for school uniform items.
- Learning materials: Minimal costs for learning materials may apply (for example, workbooks or stationery).
- Extracurricular activities, excursions, or specific school events: Any charges for optional activities or trips would be additional and communicated when applicable; such charges are not listed as compulsory school tuition.

Refund information
- There are no compulsory tuition or application fees for which a formal refund policy is required; therefore there is no published refund schedule for tuition or application fees. Refund arrangements for any optional paid activities, donations, or purchased items (such as uniforms) would be handled according to the school's operational policies and the terms communicated at the time of payment.

Fee payment options
- The school does not publish specific payment methods for voluntary donations or optional charges. Contact details for the school are provided for payment enquiries: Email info@totarapoint.school.nz; Phone 09 399 2802; Location Level 1, 303 Manukau Road, Epsom. Any accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, credit card, or payments through a school portal) are determined and communicated by the school when requesting or processing payments.

Academics

Curriculum

Cambridge Primary Curriculum underpins learning, with a structured literacy approach using the Spalding Method. Fortnightly one-on-one mentoring for every child and termly mentor-parent meetings support development. Years 1–5 begin in 2026 and expand to Years 1–6 in 2027, with about 20 students per year level. The school uses Spalding for literacy and maintains a Catholic ethos at the heart of school life. The curriculum is delivered in a low-tech, high-engagement learning environment.

Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

One-on-one mentoring for every child pairs each student with a dedicated personal mentor who guides academic progress, personal habits, social development, and moral growth. Mentors encourage, challenge, and coach each child, and act as a bridge between school and home with fortnightly meetings and termly parent meetings.

Mental Wellbeing

Mentoring supports mental wellbeing by fostering personal habits, social development, and moral growth, with the mentor–parent partnership strengthening resilience and a sense of purpose.

Parent Experience

History

Tōtara Point School is a new, state-funded charter school in central Auckland that opened on January 28, 2026. It is approved by the Charter School Agency and operates with a Catholic ethos at the heart of school life. It begins with Years 1–5 in 2026 and will grow to Years 1–6 in 2027. It is not under diocesan governance, operating independently while remaining publicly accountable. Tuition is not charged; families are invited to make a voluntary donation each term.

Community

Staff are mentors and collaborators with parents, dedicated to virtue, integrity, and Catholic ethos. Parent involvement is foundational, with regular mentor-parent meetings, termly parent formation evenings, open communication, and invitations to attend liturgies and celebrations. News and events will keep the community connected, with term calendars, school highlights, and parent resources; after opening in 2026, monthly newsletters and event gallery updates are planned.

Facilities

Facilities Overview

The school is located at Level 1, 303 Manukau Road, Epsom. Small teacher-to-student ratios accompany a Cambridge Primary Curriculum. Every child is paired with a dedicated personal mentor for one-to-one mentoring. Mentoring includes fortnightly one-on-one meetings and termly meetings with both parents. A chapel supports spiritual life as part of the Catholic ethos.

Academic Facilities

The academic programme is grounded in the Cambridge Primary Curriculum. The curriculum is knowledge-rich and emphasises clarity, depth, and mastery. Subjects include literature, mathematics, science, music and art, physical education, and religious education. Learning is described as purposeful, calm, and joyful. Mentoring guides academic progress with fortnightly meetings and termly parent meetings to support learning.

Extra Curricular Facilities

Music and Art are integrated into the curriculum as creative learning. Physical Education is daily and builds strength, teamwork, and resilience. Participation in after-school activities is encouraged. Sports and nature walks are part of active, outdoors-based activities.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual

Fortnightly one-on-one mentoring for every child supports academic progress and personal formation. The Cambridge Primary Curriculum provides the learning framework, complemented by a structured literacy approach using Spalding. Mentors guide students in academic progress, personal habits, social development, and moral growth. Mentoring links school and home to support consistent progress and purposeful learning.

Arts & Creative

Music and Art are integrated into the curriculum to cultivate disciplined creativity and an appreciation for beauty. Students explore musical and artistic expression as part of daily learning. The program supports creative performance, visual expression, and collaborative projects. This enrichment complements academic study and fosters confidence in self-expression.

Leadership & Professional

One-on-one mentoring for every child includes guidance in academic progress, personal habits, social development, and moral growth, building leadership and responsibility. Mentors act as a bridge between school and home, supporting partnerships with families that reinforce leadership development. The program emphasizes daily habits, responsibility, and virtue as foundations for personal and professional growth.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing

Daily physical education builds strength, teamwork, and resilience. Formation in heart and mind supports wellbeing as part of daily life, anchored in Catholic values. The program fosters movement, health, and mindful habits as part of a balanced day.

Admissions

1. Attend an information session. The school explains its mission to form both mind and heart, its Catholic ethos, and how the Cambridge Primary Curriculum is implemented alongside mentoring. Attending helps families understand fit and what a school–home partnership looks like. Opening in January 2026, the school runs Years 1–5 initially, with expansion to Years 1–6 planned for 2027, and class sizes of approximately 20 students per year level. 2. Submit the expression of interest. Families register their interest by submitting the expression of interest form for enrolment in the foundation year. Expressions of interest are being accepted for the foundation year, and early submission is encouraged because spaces are limited. The enrolment process is coordinated through the dedicated expression of interest portal. 3. Meet with the principal and enrolment team. After submitting the expression of interest, families meet with the principal and enrolment team to discuss fit with the school's mission, Catholic ethos, and curriculum, and to review next steps in the enrolment process. This meeting provides an opportunity to have questions answered and to confirm the pathway toward enrolment.

School Events

The school has not added events

FAQs

Where is Tōtara Point School located?

Tōtara Point School is at Level 1, 303 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand. It sits in the residential Auckland suburb of Epsom and opened in January 2026 as a day primary school. The campus supports a Cambridge Primary Curriculum with small year-level cohorts.

What ages does the school serve and how are the year groups organized now and planned for 2027?

The school serves children aged 5 to 11. In 2026 it will offer Years 1–5, expanding to Years 1–6 in 2027, with about 20 students per year level. This structure creates small, focused cohorts across the year groups.

What curriculum does the school follow and what is the learning environment like?

Learning is underpinned by the Cambridge Primary Curriculum, with a structured literacy approach using the Spalding Method. Every child has a fortnightly one-on-one mentor and termly mentor–parent meetings. The school also centres Catholic ethos in a low-tech, high-engagement learning environment.

Are there any application or enrolment fees?

There are no application or enrolment fees required to apply to Tōtara Point School. Families can register interest without upfront costs. The process emphasizes understanding fit and partnership.

What is the admissions process at Tōtara Point School?

The process begins with attending an information session to understand the school's mission, Catholic ethos, and how the Cambridge Primary Curriculum is implemented. Families then submit an expression of interest through the portal, and spaces are limited, so early submission is encouraged. Finally, families meet with the principal and enrolment team to discuss fit and next steps.

What academic framework supports learning, and how is mentoring integrated?

The Cambridge Primary Curriculum provides the learning framework, complemented by a structured literacy approach using Spalding. Each child has fortnightly one-on-one mentoring, with termly mentor–parent meetings to support progress. This combination connects classroom learning with personal development and family involvement.

What are the typical class sizes?

There are about 20 students per year level, supporting small, focused cohorts. The school opens with Years 1–5 in 2026 and plans to expand to Years 1–6 in 2027. This keeps classes intimate and manageable.

Which subjects are included in the Cambridge Primary Curriculum at the school?

The curriculum covers literature, mathematics, science, music and art, physical education, and religious education. The learning approach emphasizes clarity, depth, and mastery, with mentoring guiding progress. Music and Art are integrated into daily learning.

What facilities does the campus include, such as a chapel?

The campus includes a chapel to support spiritual life as part of the Catholic ethos. It is located at Level 1, 303 Manukau Road, Auckland, and supports a Cambridge Primary Curriculum with a low-tech, high-engagement approach. The school also integrates music, art, and physical education into its spaces.

Are music, art, and physical education part of the regular program?

Yes. Music and Art are integrated into the curriculum as creative learning, and Physical Education is daily to build strength, teamwork, and resilience. After-school activities are encouraged as part of the broader program.

What is the campus learning environment like?

The learning environment is low-tech but high-engagement, with a knowledge-rich focus and clear mastery of content. Small teacher-to-student ratios support personalized attention. Lessons are designed to be purposeful, calm, and joyful.

Tell me about the mentoring program and what it covers?

Each child has a fortnightly one-on-one mentoring session that guides academic progress, personal habits, social development, and moral growth. Mentors act as a bridge between school and home and hold termly mentor–parent meetings to strengthen progress. This structure supports consistent development across mind and heart.

How is leadership development fostered through the school's programs?

Leadership development is built into mentoring, with mentors encouraging daily habits, responsibility, and virtue. The school fosters leadership and character formation through the mentor–student relationship and home–school partnerships. Students are encouraged to take leadership in daily learning and collaborative activities.

What extracurricular activities are encouraged, and how are after-school activities structured?

After-school activities are encouraged, and music and art are integrated into daily learning. The program supports participation in additional activities as applicable, with any charges communicated when relevant. Outdoor-based activities, including sports and nature walks, are part of the program.

How does the school support student wellbeing through mentoring?

Mentoring supports mental wellbeing by focusing on personal habits, social development, and moral growth, with a strong mentor–parent partnership. The formation is grounded in Catholic values and anchored in daily well-being routines. This approach helps students build resilience and a sense of purpose.

How can parents engage with the school community and support learning at home?

Parent involvement is foundational, with mentors and teachers collaborating closely with families. There are regular mentor–parent meetings, termly parent formation evenings, open communication, and invitations to liturgies and celebrations. News and events will keep the community connected through calendars and highlights.

What is the school's ethos and is it a boarding school?

Tōtara Point School centers Catholic ethos at the heart of school life. Boarding is not applicable; it operates as a day primary school. This structure emphasizes daily school engagement with families.

Do students wear a uniform, and what are the costs?

Uniforms are required, with minimal costs for uniform items. The uniform policy supports a neat, consistent appearance while keeping expenses reasonable. Specific uniform items and pricing are communicated by the school.

How is the school governed and who approves it?

Tōtara Point School is a state-funded charter school approved by the Charter School Agency. It operates independently of diocesan governance while remaining publicly accountable. This governance model aligns with Christchurch authority and national education standards.

What is the school's history and how can families stay informed about events and communications?

Tōtara Point School is a new charter school in central Auckland that opened on January 28, 2026. After opening, the school will provide monthly newsletters and event gallery updates, along with term calendars and parent resources to keep the community connected. Families are invited to attend liturgies, celebrations, and key events.

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