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Following Cambridge Pathways to success

ACG Schools is incredibly proud of their reputation for academic achievement, offering the Cambridge International Curriculum as an alternative to the national NCEA syllabus across all their New Zealand schools.
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Cambridge

Recognised for setting a global standard for education, the Cambridge curriculum assures students at ACG Schools can be confident that their qualifications will be understood and valued throughout their education and career, in both New Zealand and internationally.

Encouraging curiosity, investigation, and enquiry among pupils, the Cambridge curriculum is divided into learner-centric Pathways. These Pathways inspire students to develop a range of essential skills to ensure they reach their highest potential and are well prepared for life beyond the classroom.

“The Cambridge curriculum offers a structure, transparency and portability that our newly graduating global citizens require in this ever-changing world,” explains Nathan Villars, ACG Sunderland Principal and Board Chair for the Association of Cambridge Schools New Zealand.

Designed for students aged from 5 to 19 years, the Cambridge Pathways follow four stages which lead seamlessly from primary to secondary and pre-university years. Each stage builds upon previous programmes of study but can also be offered separately which allows new pupils to easily transition to the Cambridge style of learning. Additionally, the Pathways act to advance each student’s problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, teamwork, independent learning, and communication abilities.

Cambridge Pathways:

  • Cambridge Primary (Years 1 to 6)
  • Cambridge Lower Secondary (Years 7 to 9)
  • Cambridge Upper Secondary (Years 10 to 11)
  • Cambridge Advanced (Years 12 to 13)

Featuring a wide range of subjects, the Cambridge curriculum is international in philosophy and approach, yet still includes the flexibility be tailored to local contexts and student needs. It provides ACG Schools with the opportunity to shape their curriculum to make certain study programmes are challenging, engaging and relevant for pupils at all year levels.

Empowering students with an informed curiosity and a lasting passion for learning, the Cambridge curriculum is characterised by its clear benchmarking and exam-based assessments. This approach allows teachers to spend more time educating pupils, ensuring they acquire the deep subject knowledge, conceptual understanding, and higher-level thinking skills they need for success at university and in their future careers.

A common misconception is that Cambridge Pathways are only for highly academic students, however in reality, the adaptable curriculum can be easily personalised to help students of all abilities achieve success. Cambridge Pathways have seen ACG students accepted to top universities in New Zealand and around the world.

The Cambridge International Curriculum is now taught to almost a million learners, in over 10,000 schools, across 160 countries. Cambridge qualifications are widely recognised by employers and accepted by every UK university, by 600 universities in the US (including all the Ivy League colleges) and in many other major student destinations.