On Thursday 19 February, Pinehurst had the pleasure of hosting a national Cambridge event on our campus, welcoming 15 Cambridge principals from around New Zealand. While this was a Cambridge event, it was proudly organised and delivered by our team here at Pinehurst, with careful attention to every detail from the first arrival through to the final farewell.
The afternoon began with a luncheon and round table session led by Chris Wiggins. Senior Cambridge representatives joined virtually to present and engage in discussion with principals from across the country. The conversation explored the future of Cambridge qualifications, including the growth of applied learning pathways and the continued rollout of digital assessments. It was a thoughtful and forward looking session, with meaningful dialogue around digital readiness, maintaining assessment integrity, and ensuring students are well prepared for a changing world.
After the round table, our guests toured both the Primary and College areas with Principal Mike Waller, offering an opportunity to see our learning spaces and Cambridge pathway in action. The afternoon concluded with a Principals Reception in the library, hosted by Mike, where wine and canapés were shared.
At 6.00pm, the focus shifted from professional dialogue to celebration as we hosted the Cambridge Outstanding Learner Awards ceremony for New Zealand. These prestigious awards recognise students who achieve the highest marks nationally or globally in the June and November 2025 examination series. It was a wonderful evening celebrating academic excellence across the country, and we were especially proud to see our Pinehurst students recognised among this distinguished group. Their achievements reflect not only hard work and perseverance, but also the strong academic culture that underpins learning at Pinehurst.
The evening’s guest speaker, Allan Davenport from Cambridge, spoke about the global reach of Cambridge qualifications and the shared responsibility schools have in preparing learners to be ready for the world.
We were also incredibly proud of the Pinehurst students who volunteered during the awards evening. They welcomed guests, assisted with logistics and represented the school with genuine confidence and warmth. Cambridge representatives commented on their motivation, initiative and professionalism throughout the event. They were outstanding ambassadors for Pinehurst and played an important role in ensuring the evening ran smoothly.
From professional collaboration to national recognition, Cambridge Day at Pinehurst brought together leadership, innovation and celebration. It was a privilege to host such an important event for the Cambridge community and to showcase both the strength of our programme and the character of our students.
