• We would like to express our sincere appreciation for the time our daughter has spent at your school. The Montessori approach and supportive learning environment have provided valuable experiences and learning opportunities that we are truly grateful for.  The dedication of your teaching staff and the unique educational philosophy have made a positive impact on our daughter.

    — Parents of Year 10 student

  • Our daughter started recently with AMC and we have nothing but praise for the school. We have loved the way they allow a three day trial to see if the school might suit, plus the flexibility, care, safety and support offered by the school. The student-centred nature of Montessori and its focus on everyone doing their part to contribute to a better world is fantastic. Our daughter is slowly unlearning her mainstream schooling experience and seeing that she can take charge of her own learning. We feel that she can finally start to find her confidence and love for learning again at AMC.

    Parents of Year 9 student

  • For families like ours, AMC is not the kind of school that would typically appeal to East Asian parents. When I recommended AMC to a friend, she also had an interest in Montessori philosophy and went to visit. But after hearing one sentence from the Principal, she quickly lost interest in enrolling her child. The Principal said: “At our school, if children want to go to university, the teachers support them to work hard academically. If children don’t want to go to university, that’s also fine.” (I heard the Chinese translation, I don't know what Steven said originally) I understood what the Principal meant. When I some times visit the school, I saw cookies or cakes, the teacher explained that a child is happily doing daily baking experiments in the school kitchen, and I learnt from the school newsletter about several children who loved woodworking and built benches to donate to the local park. But to my friend—like many East Asian parents—what she heard was: “This school doesn’t even care about university entrance rates!” From my perspective, though, that’s not the case. It’s not that children automatically value what the school values; sometimes, when a school allows a more relaxed environment, children actually achieve better results. For example, in my son’s previous public school, punctuality and attendance were strictly enforced. Being late meant criticism from teachers, and repeated lateness earned a negative mark on the annual report. But under this pressure, my son felt no motivation at all. He didn’t care about the criticism or the report card, because he didn’t like the school in the first place—none of those evaluations mattered to him. At AMC, the approach is completely different. The expectation is to arrive before 9am, but if a child is late, there is no punishment. If they need to leave early, they simply let the teacher know. In this more relaxed environment, My son has actually become more motivated to arrive on time—because he wants to be at school. The real key to attendance is not strict control, but how much the school itself attracts the child. AMC’s flexibility has, in fact, nurtured his self-motivation. At his former public school, My son was like a little hedgehog—always angry, defensive, and prickly. But not long after joining AMC, the teachers’ patient guidance smoothed down those spikes into softness. I don’t mean to criticize public schools, but some children are naturally “high-needs,” and public school teachers, who must care for twenty or thirty students, simply don’t have the capacity to meet those needs individually. They can only manage children. At AMC, with its low teacher:student ratios, teachers have the time and energy to support children as individuals, not just manage them.

    - Parent of Year 8 student

  • Choosing Auckland Montessori College has been transformative for our child. The mainstream school environment and rigid curriculum were not the right fit for him, but AMC’s nurturing approach has given him the freedom to learn at his own pace and to shape a path that truly works for him. As a result, we’ve seen him develop remarkable independence in directing his learning, all while feeling supported and encouraged by his teachers and peers. The anxiety and stress he once felt about simply going to school has disappeared, and we now have a child who is genuinely happy and thriving in his environment.

    Parents of Year 11 student

  • When our son was attending a mainstream education system, he was lost. The approach was not person-centred or personalised, it was a one-size-fits-all model, and unfortunately, it didn’t fit all. We knew he needed something different, something that recognised his individuality and potential. From the moment we visited Auckland Montessori College, we felt a shift. Steven Arnold (AMC Principal), told us, “I don’t enrol students, I enrol families,” and that couldn’t have been more true. He has mentored us as parents, supported us through challenges, and consistently shown empathy, compassion, and open communication. It’s rare to find a school that nurtures not just the child, but the whole family. Montessori education is built on the belief that children are capable, curious learners who thrive in environments that respect their natural development. At Auckland Montessori College, this philosophy is lived every day. Children are given the freedom to explore topics deeply without being interrupted by rigid subject changes. If they’ve mastered a concept, they’re not held back, they move forward. If they have a particular interest, it can be woven into every subject, making learning meaningful and engaging. The school’s approach to discipline is grounded in guidance and natural consequences, promoting self-regulation and responsibility. There are no grades or external rewards, just a genuine love of learning that grows from within. We are deeply grateful our son is attending this school. Auckland Montessori College offers individualised support and a truly child-centred approach. It emphasises independence, self-directed learning, and hands-on experiences that build real understanding. The environment is carefully prepared to encourage autonomy and exploration, and the learning materials are thoughtfully designed to support foundational skills. For any family seeking an education that honours the whole child and fosters confidence, curiosity, and lifelong learning, we wholeheartedly recommend Auckland Montessori College.

    Parents of Year 12 student

  • After nearly 20 years as an educator and with a strong background in Montessori, I’ve seen many approaches to learning — but my daughter’s journey has shown me just how transformative AMC can be. She spent some of her early years in Montessori, but chose to attend a traditional college for Year 10 onwards. While she made wonderful friends, over time the high-stakes testing and rigid structures left her anxious, unmotivated, and disconnected from her natural love of learning. By Year 12, she realised she needed something different — and returned to Montessori at AMC for Year 13. The change has been extraordinary. She’s regained her confidence, curiosity, and sense of enthusiasm. AMC’s Montessori approach doesn’t put students into boxes; it nurtures their interests, autonomy, and independence while guiding them with respect, compassion, peace, and guided structure. She’s thriving again — and even inspired one of her friends to join AMC, where he too has found his place and passion. AMC has been life-changing for our family. It’s more than just a school — it’s an environment where young people rediscover themselves and develop the tools to flourish, both as learners and as human beings.

    Parent of Year 13 student

  • My daughter has been attending AMC for a year now, and we are happy with her progress. We chose the Auckland Montessori College because in Primary school, she had difficulty gelling with her peers and understanding how to manage emotions in the school environment. We looked for an alternative education journey for her where she could be herself, without judgment or the possibility of being picked on. AMC provides a safe environment for her to learn and grow. Her interest in subjects and projects above her years is becoming clearer, and her willingness to learn is surprising. The way AMC focuses on relationships and personal development is invaluable and an area that is massively lacking in the mainstream educational system.  There is clear and open communication between the pupils, the teachers, and the parents. Pupils are treated like adults and are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions. 

    Parents of Year 10 student

  • AMC is very different from traditional schools. There are no excessively strict rules and children are not punished for being late or for not always following classroom routines. Instead, the school offers a more flexible schedule, a more tolerant learning environment, frequent communication between parents and the principal, and teaching methods tailored to each child’s unique needs. In this small-scale learning environment, the principal and teachers are able to give more attention to each student and promptly share their challenges as well as their progress with parents, so that we can better understand how our children are doing at school. The Principal Steven always takes the time to chat with me about my son’s performance that day and in recent weeks. He also greets the students every day, checking in with them through brief conversations to understand their moods and offer encouragement. This level of care is almost unimaginable in a traditional school. Another major difference between Montessori College and traditional schools lies in the school’s approach to university preparation—something many parents from Eastern cultural backgrounds, like myself, care deeply about. On one hand, the school respects both the students’ and parents’ choices, without forcing every child to pursue university or burdening them with heavy exams and homework. On the other hand, for those who wish to apply for university, the school provides full support. In my son’s case, on the very first day of school, I shared with Steven my hope that my son could study the NCEA curriculum and progress to university. Steven took this request very seriously. He created a study plan for my son, regularly updated me on his progress by email, and often discussed with me ways to better support students who want to enter university. After more than two terms of learning at Montessori College, both my son and I are extremely satisfied. My child now enjoys going to school because of the friendly principal, teachers, and classmates. The warm, family-like environment ensures that bullying simply does not exist here, which gives me great peace of mind. More importantly, the principal respects parents’ wishes and provides as much support as possible for children who want to pursue higher education. For our family, Montessori College is truly the perfect choice.

    - Parents of Year 9 student

  • 蒙台梭利学院与传统学校截然不同。这里没有过分严格的规章制度，孩子不会因迟到或偶尔不遵守课堂常规而受到惩罚。相反，学校提供更灵活的作息安排、更包容的学习环境、家长与校长的频繁沟通，以及针对每个孩子独特需求量身定制的教学方法。 在这个小规模的学习环境中，校长和教师能给予每个学生更多关注，及时向家长反馈孩子的挑战与进步，让我们更清晰地了解孩子在校表现。例如每次接孩子放学时，史蒂文校长总会抽空与我交流儿子当日及近期的表现。他每日亲切问候学生，通过简短对话了解情绪状态并给予鼓励。这种关怀在公立学校几乎难以想象。更令我感动的是，史蒂文不仅关心孩子，更对家长情绪极为敏感，常指导我们如何给予孩子更温暖的支持。 有段时间，我对青春期儿子的某些行为感到焦虑。一次闲聊中，史蒂文察觉到我的压力，便展示了一组蝴蝶蜕变图，借此阐释男孩青春期的四个发展阶段，并指导我如何理解和应对儿子的成长。这场及时的对话极大缓解了我的焦虑，让我学会了与青春期儿子建立更深层的联结。 蒙特梭利学院与传统学校的另一重大差异，在于其大学升学准备模式——这正是包括我在内的许多东方文化背景家长最关切的问题。学校一方面尊重学生和家长的选择，既不强迫每个孩子升学，也不用繁重的考试作业压垮他们；另一方面，对于有意申请大学的学生，学校则提供全方位支持。以我儿子为例，开学首日我就向史蒂文表达了希望儿子修读NCEA课程并升入大学的愿望。史蒂文对此极为重视，不仅为儿子制定学习计划，还定期通过邮件汇报进展，并多次与我探讨如何更好地支持大学升学需求。他的专注与鼓励令我深受感动。 在蒙特梭利学院学习两个学期后，我和儿子都感到非常满意。友善的校长、教师和同学让孩子爱上了上学。温暖如家的环境确保校园绝无欺凌现象，这让我倍感安心。更重要的是，校长尊重家长意愿，为有志升学的孩子提供最大支持。对我们全家而言，蒙特梭利学院确实是完美的选择。

    Parent of Year 8 student

  • I saw my son transformed from someone who was unengaged and anxious about school into a happy, joyful student. Auckland Montessori College has provided him with a supportive, nurturing environment where he has been able to explore his interests, build amazing friendships and develop a deep sense of confidence and belonging. I’m so thankful that we found this school, it changed his trajectory and is continuing to support him to be his best self and navigate the future ahead.

    Parent of Year 12 student

  • Due to our child’s gender- and neuro-diversity, our in-zone schools were totally unsuitable. We’ve found AMC to be a supportive, nurturing environment that’s allowed our daughter to be her unique self, collaborate with students and the wider school community, and realise a passion for learning. She’s gone from not wanting to leave the house, to being excited for camps, setting exam goals, and embracing core skills. She’s grown into an increasingly confident, independent young adult capable of self-directed learning, ready to face her future!

    Parents of Year 13 student

  • AMC has been beneficial for our son. The support has allowed him to flourish and gain independence. He has become forward thinking and confident as a result of the nurturing programme this school provides.

    Parents of Year 11 student