As the buildings go up at speed, Tauranga's newest private school is filling key staff positions at a similar pace.

ACG Tauranga School build in process.

Academic Colleges Group Tauranga is five months out from its February 2015 opening and has recently announced the appointment of a number of specialist staff.

The staff will form part of the school currently being constructed at the 14ha site on the intersection of Pyes Pa and Kennan roads.

Once officially open ACG Tauranga will offer specialist teachers for English, mathematics and science from Year 7-13.

ACG Tauranga principal Chris Cottell-Mayhew says they've been so lucky in the calibre of applicants for their teaching positions.

'There has been a striking theme across our appointments of the breadth of expertise and international experience, particularly with the Cambridge Curriculum that these extremely talented educators will be bringing to ACG Tauranga.”

The finalists in each of the positions underwent an intensive application process unique to the ACG schools, says Chris.

After rounds of interviews, a shortlisted candidate is invited to deliver a lesson at ACG Parnell in Auckland, where their planning, knowledge and teaching style is observed by Chris, ACG Parnell principal Larne Edmeades and other senior staff.

'Larne and I both have many years of experience in hiring staff, and Larne is very insightful in the type of teacher that has the best fit for ACG schools.

'Teachers need to love learning themselves, they need to enjoy wholeheartedly what they are teaching, and they need exceptional ability to engage all students. Not just the best and the brightest, but all students.”

Susan Wood will take up the specialist English position, returning from 11 years teaching at a London co-education private school.

Jackie Webb will specialise in mathematics, having recently completed her Masters of Education with First Class Honours, majoring in mathematical education.

Science specialist Peter Stevens is an experienced educator, who has worked in a variety of teaching and administrative positions in Auckland, Tauranga, Indonesia and Singapore.

He brings his love of science and learning to his teaching of middle and high school science and physics.

Classroom teachers, including Alison Stephens, Stephanie Ryan and Daniel Pratt, will bring local and international experience.