Information for sponsors and schools

Pathways to becoming a charter school 

There are two pathways to becoming a charter school. Either: 

• a potential sponsor applies to open a new charter school or 

• a community or board of an existing state school, together with a potential sponsor, applies to convert to a charter school. 

Round one applications were called by the Charter School Agency earlier in 2024 and have since closed. Round two will be opening in the new year of 2025 via www.GETS.govt.nz . More information including high level indictive timeframes for both application rounds can be found here..   

What’s involved in establishing a charter school  

Charter schools are all about improving outcomes for students, through diverse and innovative offerings.  

Operating as a charter school means greater flexibility in how sponsors support students to attend and achieve, with the ability to make decisions about teaching, curriculum, governance, hours and days of operation, and use of funding.  

In exchange for greater flexibility, sponsors will be subject to increased oversight and accountability through a robust performance and monitoring framework.  

Find out more detail about what’s involved in operating a charter school on the Key features page.

Applications to approve sponsors to establish a charter school are approved by the independent Charter School Authorisation Board. The Board will consider a number of factors, including (but not limited to):  

•  the focus of the proposed school  

•  the capability of the sponsor  

•  the standard of tuition to be provided  

•  the level of support from the community  

•  financial implications   

• the potential impact on the wider school network, given the proposed location, anticipated roll and other factors.   

If you would like to be kept up to date on the process, email info@charterschools.govt.nz to go on our mailing list.