Internationally recognized as an innovative leader in education for over 25 years, Carey College is small by design. That gives us the flexibility, small classes, and extensive course options that grow each child's knowledge, faith, values, and skills. Success is experienced, service is modeled, faith and excellence are valued.
Classes are small. Students can be taught and achieve as individuals. The particular skills, knowledge and needs a key to each child's learning are identified and shape personal learning. Christian character and attitudes, such as planning, managing feelings, facing challenges, persevering, caring for others, sharing and working together, and living by faith, are taught and modeled.
Carey College is named after pioneer missionary William Carey. His life is an outstanding example of Christian faith applied to practical living and useful service. He exemplifies the Christianity the College is committed to.
The college opened in 1988 as a Primary School and added its first Primary Distance Learning pupils in 1989. As the College has grown, so too has its ministry, with Secondary Distance Learning pupils beginning in 1991 and the Secondary Class in 1993.
Our College motto is Psalm 36:9: "For with you is the fountain of life in your light we see light" The Bible is God’s Word to guide and direct every part of the Christian’s life. We use it to shape our teaching methods and the content of lessons. Our courses teach children to look to the Bible to shape their studies and to help them be discerning as they confront the varied fields of knowledge that make up the school curriculum. In this way, we aim to help parents train children in faithful service to Christ.
At the very heart of the Christian faith, and therefore at the very heart of the ministry of Carey College, is this declaration about Jesus: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Among the key principles of the Christian faith that influence the character of the College and are incorporated into its Statement of Faith are:
- The Bible is the Word of God
- God, eternal in three Persons, is the Creator and Sovereign of Heaven and Earth
- The Lord Jesus Christ became man (while remaining fully God), died to save his people from their sins, rose, is alive forevermore and will return in glory
- The fear of God is necessary for true knowledge and wisdom
- Teaching is a spiritual activity
If you would like a copy of our full Statement of Faith, based on the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith as its doctrinal foundation. The main goal of education is to teach children to glorify, serve and enjoy their Creator. It is only as God is reverenced and known that any fact is properly understood or able to be widely used.
Carey College is dedicated to helping parents nurture a generation for Christ in excellence and truth. To do this we have two aims:
- We aim to bring children to a knowledge of Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord by challenging children to believe in Christ, and showing them how his Lordship applies in every part of the curriculum
- We aim to bring children to self-disciplined maturity, able to live vital, Christ-like lives as effective citizens, by laying a solid foundation of skills, knowledge, and Christian values
We aim to have a school where children are safe and well-taught rules and policies are minimal, constructive, and helpful and everyone can have clarity about what is expected and how we do things. So we publish as many of our policies as possible. The main things you might want to know are listed below: click on the text to read any item. If there is anything else you want to know, please ask.
Being a Cambridge Associate School ensures our teaching is to the highest measured international standards and presents opportunities for students in a range of qualifications recognized and respected worldwide. College courses include options preparing students for Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) such as IGCSE and A-Levels.
Why Cambridge?
- CIE meets our standards and NZQA qualifications (eg NCEA) do not
- Our Christian perspective is respected and accepted within the CIE framework
- CIE qualifications are recognized all over the world
- They are trustworthy and external-exam based
- They are structured around a challenging, quality curriculum that fits our aims
- They are flexible, meeting the needs of both vocational and academic students
Cambridge University is one of the world’s most respected universities
