The Mangawhai Education Trust is on track to open Mangawhai Hills College, a new, independent secondary school aimed at providing progressive, future-focused education for the community. Located on Tara Road, the private college is set to welcome its first intake of students in February 2025, catering to Year 7-13 students.

Mangawhai Hills College addresses a significant gap in local education, as there is currently no secondary school in Mangawhai. The Ministry of Education has confirmed that establishing a public secondary school in the area is not part of its short- to medium-term plans. As a result, students from Mangawhai currently face long commutes to high schools in Maungaturoto, Wellsford, or Warkworth.

Despite its appeal, the school comes with a steep tuition fee of $16,000 per year, which may be out of reach for many local families. However, as a non-profit institution, the college aims to offer a high-quality education experience with small class sizes, maintaining a student-to-teacher ratio of 20:1.

Mangawhai Hills College will start with 40 students in Years 7, 8, and 9, with plans to expand to include Years 10-13 over the next four years. The school recently received resource consent, and construction is underway. They have also announced the first three foundational teachers for the inaugural school year.

For more information or to enrol, visit their website: [Mangawhai Education Trust](https://www.mangawhaieducation.org.nz).