We have reimagined learning with powerful new ideas and learning experiences that prepare learners for opportunities we cannot predict. The world around us is not changing incrementally; technology, science, engineering and medicine are advancing exponentially in unpredictable ways. Education must respond accordingly.
Project-Based Learning explores relevant questions and challenges. Our explorations are deep and authentic projects where learners work together in small groups to explore a relevant, often complex question, problem or challenge found in the community, nation or world.
Our Experiential Learning helps students learn best by playing an active role and reflectively interacting with the world around them. Students learn by doing in real-world contexts and extensively use the world around them as their classroom including interacting with people and organisations globally at least 25% of the time.
Opportunity-based learning helps students ‘seize the moment’. In a quickly changing world, the ability to see, create and develop new opportunities is vital for the future leaders. Our students work on project and experience-based learning experiences and take advantage of opportunities that arise around them that are academically rigorous, relevant to community needs and engaging to the learners.
The Liger Leadership Academy is for young people who have the potential to become New Zealand’s future entrepreneurs and leaders. These learners will contribute positively to their community and to our world. The Liger Leadership Academy is a six year programme (Year 8-13). It opened as a day school in 2022.
We believe that students engage best when learning is meaningful, authentic, personalised and student-directed (MAPS©). Find out more by downloading our Prospectus.
The Liger Leadership Academy’s curriculum is benchmarked against the New Zealand Curriculum. Learners who graduate from Liger Leadership Academy will leave with a National Certificate of Education Achievement (NCEA) which is the qualification issued by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. Our learners will also complete a successful internship in the community and complete a successful Year 13 impact project.
During their studies, learners will build a student portfolio of their work and write an essay at the end of each year, highlighting how they thought about-, raised awareness of-, promoted- or created change in their community, New Zealand, or the world.
We intake students in years 8 and 9. At capacity, each cohort will target 48 students. They will experience the Liger Learning© curriculum, which includes Explorations, Essentials, Expertise and Extensions.
A unique feature of the curriculum is our focus on Explorations. These are truly meaningful projects, based on authentic community needs. They are designed with and through experts and organisations, and are tailored around solving an environmental, societal, political or cultural issue.
We are a school located in New Zealand, serving New Zealand students who will make a positive impact on this country. Therefore, we align our programme to the New Zealand Curriculum and to its aspiration that all learners will be connected, actively involved, lifelong learners. We have benchmarked our curriculum against the values, key competencies, principles and learning areas (and progressions) of the New Zealand Curriculum.
The Liger Leadership Discovery Club is for young people who want to experience our way of learning. They may have the potential to become New Zealand’s future entrepreneurs and leaders who will contribute positively to the country and the world.
Some students who attend the Discovery Club may go on to be students at the Academy, although this is not guaranteed.
Students will begin to develop the leadership skills needed in their future education, along with advancing their content knowledge in a variety of subject areas.
In addition, students will gain new knowledge and perspectives in various subject areas, including English, Arts, Science, Social Science, and Technology.
They will typically complete one project or Exploration each term. The topic of the Explorations will be based on authentic real community needs, such as responding to an issue around the environment, creative arts, science and engineering, or culture.
An important part of the learning model is involving students in the decision making and implementation process. Therefore, the specific topics for the Explorations will be decided and planned by the students, and certified teacher learning facilitators during their first sessions.
Learning in the Community
Students, with facilitators, go out into the community to investigate, communicate, and organise.
Connecting with local, national, or international experts to consult with on needed topics
Students use a variety of technology tools to communicate with inspiring experts from around the world appropriately related to chosen topics such as artists, scientists, writers, designers, and government officials.
Reading and writing related to the Exploration topic
Students read relevant materials pertaining to their project. Students write about the project in various contexts including writing articles for publication, books, and radio scripts for podcasts or videos.
Practising leadership skills needed for the project
Students learn networking and communication skills by practicing giving an elevator pitch, creating professional emails, making phone calls, etc. They then apply these skills to the current project.
Using technology effectively
Students use the internet for targeted research, communication tools such as Zoom to connect with people around the world, creating multimedia productions including the creation of documentaries, digital presentations, podcasts, and music productions.
