Applications are now open across four ACG schools for a scholarship that judges families on need, not academic, sporting or creative talent.
Kiwi families who have previously ruled out a private education because of cost can now apply for needs-based tuition support through a new global scholarship programme.
The Inspired Scholarship Programme is open to prospective students entering Years 1 to 13 at four ACG schools: ACG Parnell, ACG Strathallan, ACG Sunderland and ACG Tauranga.
Unlike ACG’s existing academic, sporting and performing arts scholarships, the new programme is intended for families who need financial assistance.
It provides a contribution towards annual tuition fees, with the amount determined according to each family’s circumstances, rather than a standard rate.
The New Zealand scholarships form part of a €30 million (NZ$60 million) initiative across Inspired Education’s network of more than 125 schools.
It follows a sharp rise in applications to the group’s existing Nsouli Scholars Programme, which had 1428 applicants representing 95 nationalities in 2026 – a 353% increase since it began in 2024.
Glenn Andrew, chief executive officer of APAC at Inspired Education, says the response pointed to a much larger group of families seeking educational opportunities they could not afford.
“Behind every place awarded, there were thousands more families whose aspirations for their children were just as strong, but whose financial circumstances placed a premium education out of reach,” he says.
Andrew says ACG has seen a similar pattern in New Zealand, where applications for its academic, sporting and performing arts scholarships regularly exceed the available awards.
The new programme does not replace those scholarships, instead establishing a separate route in which financial circumstances are considered alongside the school’s usual admissions requirements.
“This scholarship isn’t about identifying the most exceptional student in the room,” Andrew says. “It’s about making sure a genuine desire for a good education, and the means to access one, aren’t two different things.”
Each application is assessed by the local admissions team. Families are asked to provide evidence of their financial position, which may include a recent payslip, bank statements and other relevant documents.
The school also considers whether the student reflects ACG’s values and is likely to thrive within its community.
The scholarship applies to tuition rather than every cost associated with attending the school. Support is initially provided for three years, after which the family’s circumstances are reviewed to establish whether the level of assistance remains appropriate. The terms and amount are confirmed directly with the family when an offer is made.
The programme is separate from the Nsouli Scholars Programme. Nsouli scholarships provide full funding to a small number of students selected internationally, while the Inspired Scholarship Programme offers partial tuition assistance to a broader group and is administered by each participating school.
Families choose one preferred school when they apply. All four New Zealand schools teach the Cambridge curriculum from Year 1 to Year 13, but Andrew says their communities and areas of emphasis differ.
ACG Parnell is recognised for the breadth of its Cambridge results, while ACG Sunderland combines its academic programme with more than 50 extracurricular activities. ACG Strathallan includes an established primary school within a close-knit campus community, and ACG Tauranga places particular emphasis on an inclusive, student-focused environment.
Students across the four schools have access to specialist teachers, smaller classes, sport, and creative and performing arts. The schools all offer the internationally recognised Cambridge curriculum, enabling students to pursue university study in New Zealand or overseas.
Through the wider Inspired network, they may also participate in international exchanges and global camps. Andrew says these opportunities are intended to help students develop confidence, explore their interests and prepare for a range of pathways after school.
“The biggest misunderstanding is that an ACG education, like independent education more broadly, is seen as exclusive or only for a certain type of family,” he says.
Andrew says the programme is intended for students who reflect ACG’s values and would thrive at an ACG school, but whose families need financial assistance to apply.
The application begins online and follows ACG’s usual admissions process, with an additional financial assessment. Families submit an application and may be invited to meet the school principal to discuss the student’s needs and whether the school is a suitable fit. They are then notified of the outcome once the admissions and scholarship assessments are complete.
Globally, up to 500 scholarships are awarded each year across Inspired’s network of more than 125 schools. There is currently no published closing date for applications, but Andrew encourages those interested to apply sooner rather than later.
“My advice to any family who is interested but hesitant is simple: don’t wait… applying sooner gives a family the best possible chance.”
Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or residents, and admission remains subject to a place being available at the family’s preferred school. Applications are open and considered individually.
More information and the application form are available through the Inspired Scholarship Programme website. Applicants should select ACG Parnell, ACG Strathallan, ACG Sunderland or ACG Tauranga as their preferred school.