Congratulations to Hereworth School, NZ who were recognised as winners in the 2026 educate+ Excellence Awards.
Category: Admissions Campaign
At Hereworth School, an independent Year 0–8 school in regional New Zealand, new entrant Admissions increased from two students in 2019 to 28 in 2025. This fourteenfold increase made five-year-olds the school’s fastest-growing intake and highlighted the need for a dedicated transition programme.
Previously, transition arrangements were dominated by the larger Years 5–7 intake. In New Zealand, children can begin school between their fifth and sixth birthdays, meaning families arrive throughout the year, often mid-term. A fixed annual calendar did not adequately accommodate these individual journeys.
Between October 2024 and April 2026, Hereworth redesigned its approach through four phases: research and planning, programme testing, review and refinement, and implementation. Other schools can adapt five key elements.
1. Work backwards from each child’s arrival.
Hereworth replaced its annual schedule with personalised timelines anchored to each child’s fifth birthday. Schools can record birthdays, agreed start dates, visits and Communications in a shared tracker, assigning responsibility for every touchpoint.
2. Build relationships before day one.
Enrolment interviews now combine a short Headmaster discussion with a new entrant classroom tour. Teachers also visit incoming children at their Early Learning Centres, establishing familiarity, observing social interactions and identifying starting points for learning.
3. Orient parents as well as children.
Two comprehensive parent orientation events each year allow families to attend the session closest to their child’s start date. A booklet, Our First Steps Together, provides a reference afterwards. Every surveyed orientation attendee found the sessions valuable for building connections and understanding school life.
4. Make classroom readiness practical.
A Transitioning to School information sheet explains self-management and readiness for learning. Schools can offer simple activities such as practising managing belongings, opening lunchboxes and asking for help, helping children approach everyday routines confidently.
5. Connect the welcome experience.
Hereworth introduced coordinated booklets featuring a wool-inspired design, a hand-knitted “Hereworth Bunny” gifted on day one, and a personalised fifth-birthday “One More Sleep” email. An activity book featuring the campus, values and uniform is also in development.
With no dedicated Admissions budget, Headmaster support enabled the school to double the funding allocated from Marketing resources. Testing the programme with existing materials allowed processes to improve before redesigned collateral was introduced.
The family survey found that 100% of respondents felt fully prepared and informed, and every responding family felt thoroughly supported. Qualitative feedback described belonging, reduced anxiety and happy arrivals.
For other schools, the practical starting point is a coordinated timeline that makes each family’s transition visible.
Key Takeaways
- Plan around each child: Replace a fixed annual calendar with a rolling timeline based on individual birthdays and agreed start dates.
- Build connection early: Use classroom tours and Early Learning Centre visits to establish familiar faces before day one.
- Support the whole family: Combine parent orientation events with clear written guidance on school routines and practical preparation.
- Make every touchpoint count: Connect welcome materials, personalised messages and first-day experiences to reinforce belonging.
- Test, refine and measure: Introduce changes in stages and gather family feedback to assess preparedness, support and connection.
Why It Matters
Starting school shapes a family’s earliest experience of their school community. A coordinated, personalised transition can ease uncertainty, help children arrive with confidence and give teachers a stronger foundation for learning. For Admissions and Advancement teams, it also demonstrates the care behind the school’s promise, building trust at the beginning of what may become a long relationship. Hereworth’s results show the value of making each family feel recognised, prepared and supported before their child’s first day.
