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Ficino School

New Zealand, Auckland

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees NZ$22,460 - 24,960
Ages Not listed
Type Co-educational
Opened 1997
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Montessori Curriculum
Taught languages Samoan, French
Typical class size 20
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Outdoor Education
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies
Stages Preschool, Primary School, Middle School
Introduction

Ficino School is a private, co‑educational day school on a Mount Eden campus housed in a villa dating from the early 1900s. It serves Preschool through Year 8 on a single site, offering a compact yet broad learning environment designed to nourish body, mind and spirit. The curriculum blends the Cambridge Primary Programme for English, Mathematics and Science with New Zealand's Curriculum, enriched by specialist programmes drawn from Ficino's sister schools worldwide. Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) is a core feature of learning, connecting off‑site activities to classroom topics within the New Zealand framework. In addition to core subjects, students engage with the arts, physical education and philosophy, with philosophy taught through the international P4C programme. From Year 5, technology is introduced to prepare students for high school, while regular national assessments such as PATs monitor progress. The Ficino Educational Trust, established in 1998, governs the school with a board of up to seven trustees, guiding strategic direction alongside the Principal.

27 Esplanade Road, Mount Eden, Auckland 1024, New Zealand

The Essentials

Ficino School has typical class sizes of 20, instruction in English.

Location
27 Esplanade Road, Mount Eden, Auckland 1024, New Zealand. Mount Eden is an inner suburb of Auckland. Ficino School provides Preschool – Year 8 for girls and boys. Limited parking is available at the rear of the building to assist parents escorting their children to the classroom.

Stages
Preschool; Primary; Intermediate

Type
Private, co-educational, day school; no boarding facilities

Country affiliation
New Zealand

School day structure
The day begins at 8:15am with registration at 8:20am and a daily assembly at 8:30am. Morning break is at 10:50am for 20 minutes. Lunch is in two sessions: Y1–4 11:55–12:25 and Y5–8 12:45–1:10, with dismissal at 3:00pm (Y1–4) and 3:15pm (Y5–8). There is no school bus transport; carpooling is common.

Bus service
School bus transport is not available; carpooling is common.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
All clothing worn at school should be clearly named. Blazers are worn to and from school in Terms 2–4 and for formal occasions; Terms 1 and 4 are the summer uniform and Terms 2 and 3 are the winter uniform. Footwear is black leather sandals in summer and plain black regulation shoes in winter. Hair must be neat; girls' hair is to be tied back; jewellery is limited to religious significance with written parental approval, and makeup or nail polish is not permitted; plain watches are allowed.

Food Options
All meals, including morning tea, are provided by the school. The meals are in-season and vegetarian and are prepared daily in the school kitchen. Ingredients from the school gardens are used when available.

House System
The school has four houses: Francis and Gregory for boys, and Clare and Teresa for girls. Each house has two teachers and a House Captain (a Year 8 student). All students belong to a house and meet there weekly; Year 5–8 students eat lunch with their house, and each year two houses present about their patron saint during a termly assembly. House points are awarded for good behaviour, effort, and achievement.

Governance and Ownership
Ficino School is owned by the Ficino Educational Trust, established in 1998, and is governed by up to seven appointed trustees. The Board of Trustees meets monthly and is responsible for strategic and financial governance and asset management, and sets the school's purpose and policies, approving annual plans in consultation with the Principal.
Fees

Annual tuition at Ficino School ranges from NZD 22,460 to NZD 24,960 for 2026/27.

Application & Enrolment Fees
- Application fee: NZD 200 (non-refundable).
- Acceptance fee: NZD 1,200 due on acceptance of place (non-refundable).
- Refundable bond: NZD 1,000 due with the school fees two weeks before the child starts; refundable in the term after leaving less any amounts owing. Withdrawing a child before they start, or withdrawing after starting without giving one term's written notice, will result in forfeiture of the bond.

Tuition Fees (per term by year group) and Annual Equivalent
- Year 0–3: NZD 5,615 per term. Annual equivalent (4 terms): NZD 22,460.
- Year 4–6: NZD 5,980 per term. Annual equivalent (4 terms): NZD 23,920.
- Year 7–8: NZD 6,240 per term. Annual equivalent (4 terms): NZD 24,960.
- All amounts are GST inclusive.
- Sibling discounts on tuition only: second child 10% reduction; third child 25% reduction; fourth child 50% reduction.

Billing Schedule and Payment Terms
- Payment options: annual, termly, or in 10 equal instalments (February to November). Annual payment attracts a reduction; termly payments are due prior to the start of each term; instalments are due on the first day of each month from February to November.
- Annual payment: a 3% reduction applies when the full annual tuition is paid by the specified annual payment date.
- Instalment option carries an administration fee of NZD 300.
- One term's written notice is required on withdrawal to enable refund of the bond; failing to provide this notice leads to bond forfeiture.

Boarding Fees
- Boarding is not applicable; the school operates as a day primary/intermediate school.

After-School Care, Lunches and Other Recurring Costs
- Fresh lunches and morning tea are provided for all pupils (included).
- Afternoon Club (after-school care): NZD 515 per term. Casual or daily rate: NZD 25.00 per child per day.
- Extra activities and trips may incur additional activity fees; parents are advised of such expenses in advance. Basic stationery items are included in the tuition fees.

Uniform and Other One-off Costs
- Uniform items are supplied through the school's chosen uniform supplier (NZ Uniforms online store); uniform costs vary by item and are additional to tuition and are not listed as part of the standard tuition amounts.

Refunds and Forfeitures
- The refundable bond (NZD 1,000) is refunded in the term after the student leaves, less any outstanding charges. The bond will be forfeited if a student is withdrawn before starting or withdrawn after starting without one term's written notice. Application and acceptance fees are non-refundable.

Payment Methods and Charges
- Accepted payment methods: direct credit (bank transfer) and Visa or MasterCard credit cards accepted at the school office. Cash payments are not accepted. A 2.25% surcharge applies (noted alongside card acceptance).

Other Notes
- Fees and other charges are reviewed annually. Parents will be notified of any required payments beyond standard tuition as needed.
Academics

Ficino School teaches Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Montessori Curriculum.

Curriculum
Ficino School has a curriculum designed to nourish the body, mind and spirit. It incorporates aspects of the Cambridge Primary Programme (for English, Mathematics and Science), the New Zealand Curriculum, and specialist programmes from sister schools around the world, providing breadth and depth in learning. Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) is a key part of learning under the New Zealand curriculum, offering off-site activities linked to classroom topics. The arts, physical education and philosophy components are integrated to support holistic development.

Higher Education Progression
Graduates are valued in the best independent and state secondary schools; recent graduates attend St Kentigern College, Kings College, Mt Albert Grammar School, Epsom Girls Grammar, St Cuthberts, Auckland Grammar and ACG Parnell.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Ficino School provides a philosophically-inspired private education for Preschool through Year 8. The Mind, Body and Heart are nourished with a knowledge-based curriculum that develops academic excellence, strength of character, power of attention, and the ability to be of service. Mindfulness is woven into daily learning, guiding students to rejoice in the present and to focus on the task at hand. The School Values of respect, truthfulness, courage, obedience and responsibility underpin positive social skills and leadership. Acts of service are celebrated as students care for others, including helping with lunchtime arrangements and leadership roles for senior students.

Mental Wellbeing
Wellbeing is nurtured through a holistic approach that attends to the heart and mind. The prospectus notes wellbeing is taken seriously, developing self-mastery and kindness, and strengthening character through reflective habits. Mindfulness is taught to improve focus and self-discipline, with The Pause at the beginning and end of activities re-energising students and teachers.
Parent Experience

History
Ficino School is owned by the Ficino Educational Trust, established in 1998. The Board of Trustees, up to seven appointed members, governs the school's strategic direction, finances and assets, and meets monthly. As guardians of the founding charter, the Board maintains the school's distinctive qualities and guides development in collaboration with the Principal. The school opened in 1997 with an inaugural intake.

Community
Ficino School has a close‑knit community with active parental involvement. The arts and activities are showcased through an annual music competition and class concerts, with regular performances at assemblies. The house system fosters cross‑age collaboration and community spirit, and a range of sports and arts events are held throughout the year, including cross‑country competitions. Friday assemblies are open to parents.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Friends of Ficino (FoF) is a volunteer organization made up of school parents. FoF assists the school in fostering a strong sense of community and school spirit amongst the parent group and supports the school in its endeavours. The Executive Committee is launched to lead FoF and works collaboratively with staff, parents and the school leadership team to highlight needs and add value to the school's programme. Enriching the environment for all students and families within Ficino School is a key goal of Friends of Ficino.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Ficino School campus sits in Mount Eden, Auckland, housed in a stately villa dating from the early 1900s. The villa forms the central on-site setting for teaching and school life. Prospective families can book a tour to view the campus. Ficino serves Preschool – Year 8 on this Mount Eden site.

Sports Facilities
Ficino School offers a full physical education programme delivered by specialist PE teachers. The programme includes large and small ball skills, athletics, gymnastics, adventure education, and a wide range of team sports. All PE lessons are taught by specialist PE teachers. Students swim at local pools with experienced instructors, culminating in a swimming gala in Term 4 for Years 3–8. Hockey, netball, cross country and basketball are offered, with cross country races held on Mt Eden and annual athletics day.

Academic Facilities
The curriculum combines the Cambridge Primary Programme with New Zealand's National Curriculum, with specialist programmes from Ficino's sister schools. In Years 1–4 the curriculum focuses on developing the whole child with activities in music, literature, mathematics, history and science. In Years 5–6 students continue with Cambridge English, Mathematics and Science and begin sitting exams in core subjects; philosophy is taught using the international P4C programme. From Year 5, technology is introduced into classroom learning to prepare students for high school. Ficino also uses Cambridge English, Maths and Science across later years and includes regular national assessments such as PATs.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Music is a central part of school life with weekly singing and private music lessons in instruments such as flute, guitar, piano, recorder, trumpet, ukulele and violin. The school runs auditioned and all-comers choirs for Year 3–8. The Arts programme includes painting, drawing and sculpture; students' artwork is displayed around the school. Speech and drama lessons occur weekly, with productions typical each term and year; dance is taught weekly with various cultural forms, plus occasional performances. Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) is a core part of the New Zealand curriculum, offering hands-on learning through trips and activities throughout the year.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Arts & Creative
After-school clubs in speech and drama; individual music lessons in piano, violin, cello, trumpet, flute and guitar; the school choir has enjoyed success in regional competitions.

Cultural & Language
French after-school club.

Social & Hobbies
Chess club is a popular lunch-time club typically running in Term 3.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Hockey and netball teams train after school and play on the weekend in winter terms; an early morning running club operates once a week during term time.
Languages

Language Provision
The school teaches English as the language of instruction, following the Cambridge Primary Programme for English, Mathematics and Science, and the New Zealand Curriculum. Sanskrit is a specialty language taught at Ficino School, with Sanskrit taught orally in Year 1 and the written script introduced in Year 2; students then study Sanskrit grammar, translation and literature. French is offered as an after-school option with a specialist French teacher.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Tours or Information Evening: Families are encouraged to attend a tour or Information Evening to learn about Ficino School and the enrolment process. Tours provide an in-person opportunity to see the school and hear about entry points and capacity. An enrolment to Ficino Montessori Preschool typically enrols children over the age of 2, but an enrolment to the preschool does not guarantee entry to Ficino School. 2. Application Pool: All applicants go into our Application Pool. This pool is the first step in the admission process and the school reviews applications for vacancies. We will contact you in writing if your application is successful. 3. New entrants/Year 1: If successful for New entrants/Year 1, you will be invited to meet with the Principal while your child has the opportunity to meet with the Class 1 teacher in the classroom. The teacher will carry out some brief assessments for these younger children, which are mostly oral and do not require any preparation. A written outcome will follow on the status of the application. 4. Year 2+ older students: Older students from Year 2 upwards usually stay for a half day or whole day to experience the school. They are buddied up with another student who looks after them during the visit. The teacher can carry out some simple assessments to ascertain the student's ability level. 5. Notification: We will let you know as soon as possible, in writing, whether your application has been successful. This written communication confirms the outcome of the admissions process. 6. Acceptance: At that point, a non-refundable acceptance fee is payable if you wish to secure a place at Ficino School. 7. Intake times: Year 1 intakes are at the beginning of Term 1 and Term 2. Intakes for New Entrants (Year 0) are in Term 3 and Term 4.

Scholarships
Scholarships and fee-assisted places are available for Year 7 onwards. Scholarships are awarded to Year 7 students who demonstrate academic excellence and talent in sport or the Arts. Scholarships provide a remission in fees of up to 50%. Additional fee assistance may be available to strong applicants whose financial circumstances are a barrier.
School Events
The school has not added events
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