Daily parades, marching single-file and weekly section rankings– but Vanguard Military School is no boot camp, says Principal Steve Mueller. He explains what its ‘military ethos’ really means for students, and who it suits.
Vanguard Military School is not a traditional school – but then again, not all young people thrive in a traditional model.
The term “military school” can carry strong connotations. It may conjure images of a punitive environment run with an iron fist, or a school designed solely for those with military aspirations.
For Vanguard Military School, this couldn’t be further from the truth, says principal Steve Mueller.
“It’s not a boot camp – in fact, it’s got nothing to do with boot camp. Vanguard Military School is an NCEA co-ed senior high school for Years 11 to 13 with registered teachers, offering a range of academic subjects delivered with a military ethos,” he explains.
“We recognise that kids are not soldiers, and they’re not grown adults: they’re kids.”
The “military ethos” fosters an environment built on structure, consistency, accountability and belonging – clear expectations, clear standards, says Mueller.
Instead of preparing young people for the military, Vanguard Military School uses a framework inspired by military values. Respect, discipline and teamwork, for example, are qualities that not only underpin a successful education, but a successful life beyond the classroom.
A regular school day at Vanguard
Like traditional secondary schools, Vanguard Military School follows an academic pathway through NCEA Levels 1, 2 and 3, ensuring every student has the qualifications to transition into further study, trades, apprenticeships, or employment.
Maths, English, Physical Education, Physical Training and Recruit Development Course (RDC) are compulsory throughout, while elective subjects include Te Reo Māori, History, Science, Engineering, Computing and Defence Force Studies.
RDC teaches important life skills, such as time-management and accountability, to prepare students for future pathways, while Physical Training (PT) is conducted daily to boost resilience, teamwork and personal fitness.
It’s also an effective method of teaching self-efficacy, says Mueller. After all, “if you adapt and do well in the PT arena, then why can’t you do it in the classroom?”
Each week concludes with Inter-Section Competitions, a series of physical, mental and team-based challenges designed to test determination, build camaraderie and develop leadership.
“Inside the classroom, students complete their normal NCEA studies,” Mueller says. “[Aside from] being more instructional, lessons are the same as you’d see in any other classroom in any other school.”
The ‘military ethos’ in practice
At Vanguard, certain military procedures are followed to provide structure and reinforce self-discipline. One such process is walking single-file and to the left between classes, lining up outside the classroom, and being called in by the teacher for roll call.
Each day begins and ends with a formal parade.
“We do a lot of military drill and marching, which teaches students how to work effectively as a part of a team. If one person’s out of sync, everyone’s out,” Mueller explains.
Instead of a form class, students are put into sections – “basically your family for the time you’re at the school,” he says. The premise is that each student is expected to become a functioning part of their section, contributing to its strength and success.
Discipline, meanwhile, is designed to be developmental and mentorship-based rather than punitive. Staff use corrective training to enforce positive habits when students don’t meet the standards expected of them, such as their uniform being untidy.
Sections are ranked each week based on factors such as corrective training, academic achievement and attendance, with each section vying for the top spot.
“What we’re trying to achieve is [the sense] that you’re part of something bigger than yourself.”
What young people might benefit?
First and foremost, a prospective student should want to enroll. If a young person indicates they are being forced to attend, Mueller says it won’t work.
“A parent can’t make a kid come here. A lot of the responses we get from kids are ‘I want more discipline in my life, I want people to believe in me, I want to be held accountable.’”
If a young person is disengaged, demonstrating bullying behaviour or has fallen through the cracks at regular school, Vanguard Military School could be the right fit.
That was the case for Oscar, an alumnus who says he “never thought he could accomplish anything” before attending Vanguard.
“I was failing school, and then I started doing well physically – and then I thought, ‘if I can do well physically then why can’t I do well academically?’” he recalls.
“I started applying myself in the classroom and I ended up graduating dux.”
Oscar says when he started at Vanguard he was “skinny”, “unfit” and “couldn’t even do 10 push-ups in a row”.
“Vanguard gave me the opportunity to prove to myself that it didn’t have to be like that forever, and if I wanted to make a change then I could – all I had to do was put the effort in. So, I focused on the input and then the output followed naturally.”
Clear expectations and structure remove the stress associated with student-led learning models, while small class sizes allow teachers to provide a more individualised approach.
“I can think of one kid who couldn’t even look me in the eye earlier in the year. Now, she’s on our student leadership team, she can bust out 60 press-ups, and her confidence has just skyrocketed,” Mueller says.
“We have a mentality here: if it’s hard, try harder. We never give up.”
A few spaces are still available for 2027. Expressions of Interest can be completed via vanguard.school.nz. Prospective students are required to attend a compulsory Orientation Evening. Bookings for the next orientation on October 27 are now open.