It is with pleasure that I present my annual Chair Report for The KingsWay Trust (KWT) for 2025.
The 2025 year has been one of substantial activity across the Trust. We have continued to pursue our mission of providing Christ-centred, accessible, quality education for children and young people in the Auckland region, with significant building work, and ongoing strengthening of systems, property planning, Special Character support, and operational foundations needed for long-term sustainability.
Schools
KingsWay School, Silverdale has continued to grow strongly during 2025. Roll growth exceeded budgeted forecasts through the year, with the school’s domestic roll reaching 1,969 by Q4, alongside 85 international students. Demand for places has remained high, reflected in a substantial waiting list for preference enrolments. A major focus for the Trust this year has been the Senior Campus Arts Centre. Following design and consenting work earlier in the year, construction commenced in July with completion due at the end of May 2026. At the Junior Campus, the Covered Outdoor Learning Area has been substantially completed, although significant damage to the asphalt courts beneath it has required further engineering, insurance, and remediation work. Trustees also approved significant modernisation work to the Sanford Block, Allen Block, and Events Centre to proceed over the summer break, creating improved learning, counselling, ESOL, dean, arts, and support spaces for the start of the 2026 year.
Alongside these property developments, KingsWay School also played an important role in the life of the wider Christian school network by hosting an NZACS conference. This was a significant conference, with very positive feedback regarding both the organisation of the event and the servant-hearted contribution of senior students. Special Character induction and staff professional learning also continued well during the year, with ongoing work in biblical and theological formation, and with plans already in place for further on-site programmes in 2026.
Jireh Christian School, Avondale has continued to experience strong enrolment demand during 2025. A significant development was the granting of resource consent for a deemed subdivision relating to leased land, bringing into effect a perpetually renewable lease of part of the school site with the Reformed Church of Avondale. This creates a clearer pathway for future development, which in the shorter term includes a Covered Outdoor Learning Area and an application for a maximum roll increase, with further building provisioning being planned. Two relocatable support spaces were installed to meet counselling, tutoring, and student support needs pending longer-term development of the site.
From a Special Character perspective, Jireh has continued to show warmth, gospel purpose, and healthy initiative. Its school musical, The Greatest Love Story, was presented with an explicitly evangelistic purpose and reportedly had a meaningful impact on families and the wider community.
KingsGate School, Pukekohe has continued its steady development and consolidation during 2025. Construction of a new pavilion was completed, and the school began using the facility during the year. By Q4, student numbers were above budget, and the school’s roll expectation for the start of 2026 had lifted further. The Principal, staff and the school community are to be commended for continuing to strengthen the school’s provision while managing growth and expansion.
The Triennial Special Character Review of KingsGate School was another important milestone during 2025. The review found strong evidence of the Special Character framework, including the seven core practices, being embedded in the life of the school, while also identifying constructive next steps.
Horizon School, Snells Beach has had a year of both challenge and constructive progress. Student numbers remained below budget and eased slightly during the year, though work continued to explore practical steps that may strengthen the school’s future viability. Property planning also advanced, with the lower auditorium space being released from commercial usage and becoming available for school use from 2026. Ongoing maintenance priorities also remain important for the school.
There have been a number of encouraging signs in the school’s Special Character life. The school’s Special Character Leader has continued to strengthen Formation classes and support staff in connecting faith with learning. Feedback reported during the year included a parent survey recording full agreement that Horizon incorporates Christian faith meaningfully within the curriculum.
Kumeū Christian School / West Auckland Development. The KingsWay Trust continued to work with Kumeū Baptist Church toward the long-term vision of establishing a Christian school site in West Auckland. This work remains complex. A highly productive land classification of the proposed site has continued to present a significant obstacle, and both legal and planning advice during the year confirmed the seriousness of that constraint. Further specialist planning advice has been commissioned, and support has been sought from local political representatives. This remains a priority project with strategic significance for the Trust.
Preschools: KingsWay Educational Services Ltd (KES). The preschool network has remained an important focus during 2025. Silverdale has continued to perform strongly and received Ministry of Education approval late in the year to increase its licensed maximum from 60 to 69 children, a positive step expected to improve financial performance and meet continued family demand. Red Beach has continued on a positive growth trajectory, while at Snells Beach occupancy levels have continued to place pressure on preschool operations.
We remain grateful to the KES board of directors, the Preschools Manager, and staff for their faithful work in caring for children and maintaining quality and Special Character across the centres.
Trust Leadership and Operations
I remain deeply grateful for our trustees, who continue to give generously of their time, experience, and wisdom in service of the Trust’s mission. During 2025, Philip Mark Bradley continued to strengthen his leadership as CEO through strategic oversight, project management, network engagement, and support of both Trust and school priorities. He leads a hardworking and committed team. Staffing capacity has been stretched, and the Trust initiated an external review of our executive management structure in the early part of 2026 to ensure our staffing resource is fit for purpose moving forward.
Finance and Capital Works
The Trust has continued to steward a significant programme of capital works, maintenance, and planning during 2025. Major activity included the KingsGate School third teaching pavilion, the KingsWay School Arts Centre, KingsWay School modernisation works, COLA construction and remediation, fire alarm and emergency alert upgrades, ongoing lease template review work appropriate for the integrated school sector, and the development of a stronger Ten-Year Property Plan framework to support better school, proprietor, and land trust coordination.
Health and safety systems have also been reviewed and advanced during the year. These are practical but important steps in strengthening the Trust’s operational maturity and care for staff and sites.
Special Character and Partnership with NZCPT
The Trust’s partnership with the NZ Christian Proprietors Trust has continued to flourish throughout 2025. Termly engagement with principals and Special Character leaders continued, with staff professional learning delivered across all schools on Scripture and various theological topics. There has also been continued work to support teacher induction, strengthen devotions and formational programmes, and deepen curriculum planning that genuinely connects faith and learning.
Across the network, this support has borne visible fruit in different ways: KingsWay School’s hosting of the NZACS conference, Horizon’s strengthening of Formation and curriculum integration, Jireh’s evangelistic musical and student character growth, and KingsGate’s positive review outcomes and renewed devotions culture. We remain grateful for NZCPT’s Theological Advisor and Educator’s ongoing contribution in this area, and for the school leaders who continue to serve faithfully in the outworking of Special Character. The recruitment of a Community of Practice Facilitator by NZCPT at the end of the year holds much promise for the deepening of services provided to KWT schools in 2026.
Looking Ahead
As we look toward 2026, important priorities include completing and commissioning the KingsWay School Arts Centre, progressing the remaining KingsWay remediation and modernisation work, and giving effect to 10YPP and capital works planning frameworks. We will also refresh our planning and prioritisation of work ahead, including advancing Jireh’s property development pathway, continuing work on the Kumeū vision, considering and prioritising further requests from our schools, strengthening preschool performance, and ensuring that the Trust’s staffing and project systems are fit for the scale of work ahead.
Conclusion
I am deeply grateful for the dedication of our trustees, staff, school leaders, preschool teams, and partner organisations throughout 2025. Much has been asked of many people this year, and much has been accomplished. Our vision to support Christ-centred, accessible, quality education remains clear and compelling. With deep gratitude to God for His faithfulness, we move forward with hope and trust in His ongoing provision.
Ma Ihowa koe e manaaki, mana koe e tiaki
May God bless you and keep you.