Motto: Be transformed by the renewal of your mind — Romans 12:2
At Renew School, growing Christ-like character isn't a separate goal from academic learning — it's part of the same thing. The same approach that shapes how we teach maths or history also shapes how we help students grow in attitude and behaviour: not bolted on, but built in, through the ordinary practice of school life alongside people who are living it out themselves.
We're upfront about this because it matters, especially as students move into the Secondary years: Renew works best for families who want this kind of formation, not just an education that happens alongside it. That shapes real expectations around standards and boundaries — not rules for their own sake, but part of how character actually grows.
Appearance
Head over to our dress code page to understand what we expect.
Inter-Pupil Relationships
Relationships are part of how character forms too — who we spend our days with shapes who we become, just as much in the playground and common room as in the classroom. As students get older those relationships get more complex, so we're intentional about creating a healthy, co-educational environment where boys and girls can build real respect and lasting friendship, without the pressure that can come with growing up.
With this in mind the School has a very definite policy on this issue:
- Conversation of a sexually explicit nature, or racially or gender insensitive is forbidden. This includes sexual innuendoes, jokes, and language.
- Showing of physical affection to members of the opposite sex is not acceptable, unless members of the same family.
- Physical contact is limited to curriculum activities and then only under the supervision of a member of staff.
- There is to be no pairing off between students of opposite sex unless under teacher supervision for curriculum activities.
- Older students must respect and care for the younger students at the college who do not need to be involved in the level of conversation normally associated with older students.
- Mentoring of younger students by older students is encouraged, and happens naturally facilitated during house/rākau activities.
