We believe each person who enters
ACTON ACADEMY
will find a calling that changes the world
What if children are far more capable than we imagine?
Begin a Hero's Journey;
Discover precious gifts
and a commitment to mastery;
We promise through Socratic Guiding and experiential learning to encourage each member of our community to:
Become a curious, independent, life-long learner;
Embrace the forging of a strong character;
Cherish the arts, the physical world, and the mysteries of life;
Treasure economic, political, and religious freedom.
Acton Academy Victoria is a place where education becomes a transformational journey, not just for children, but for families, communities, and generations to come.
What makes Acton Academy Victoria different?
On a Hero's Journey, with challenges, adventure, fellow travellers and guides
Sharing learning in a tightly bound community
Young people doing challenging work at their own pace.
Collaborating on real world projects
Earning points for effort and badges for mastery
Using the latest technology to master reading, writing and math
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Learners use badges to track academic progress in Core Skills like reading, writing, math, and spelling, along with character development through Servant Leader Badges.
Young heroes deliver public exhibitions of their work at the end of each four-to-six week sprint.
Young heroes celebrate the mastery of tools, skills, and character by earning badges and taking part in public exhibitions.
Self-management and self-governance skills are measured by peer reviews at the end of each session.
JOY
RIGOR
MASTERY
We believe each person has a gift that can change the world in a profound way
We believe in learning to learn, learning to do, and learning to be
We believe in a closely connected family of lifelong learners
We believe in economic, political, and religious freedom
Our Beliefs
Accomplish important work and play well with others
Ask great questions
Have fun and welcome others
Set and track goals
Build a solid foundation in reading, writing, math, and civilization
learning through hands‑on, project‑based experiences
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The Elementary Studio Eagles are independent
learners who find great joy in learning in a tight knit community
that upholds the highest standards
of excellence.
Learners in the Elementary Studio:
The Heart Behind Acton Academy Victoria
We are Andrew and Shannon Haws—and together with our three young adventurers, Isla, Ben, and Emersyn—we are launching Acton Academy Victoria, a place where education becomes a transformational journey, not just for children, but for families, communities, and generations to come.
Our story begins with a question—one that quietly followed us even before we became parents: How do we raise children who are curious, courageous, and truly prepared for life? For years, we wrestled with that question. We explored, discussed, dreamed. But no clear answer emerged.
Then came 2023.
As our oldest approached school age, the question became urgent. We poured ourselves into exploring every path—public school, private school, homeschool. We read, we researched, we asked hard questions. And while each option had its merits, none felt like the right fit for the vision we held for our children’s growth. Something was missing—something deeper, more purposeful. We were looking for a spark, and we hadn’t found it yet.
And then came the call to adventure.
One ordinary summer evening, we stumbled upon a podcast that mentioned Acton Academy. What we heard lit a fire in our souls. Here was a school unlike any we had encountered: learner-driven, purpose-centered, grounded in timeless values yet built for the future. It spoke of children as heroes—each on their own unique journey, capable of far more than we imagined. It was a vision of education that honored the child, challenged the status quo, and sparked something deep within us.
That moment changed everything.
We couldn't unsee it. We had found the path we didn’t even know we were looking for. And like any true Hero’s Journey, we knew the road ahead would require courage, sacrifice, and growth. But we also knew it was our path. And that we were no longer just searching for the right school—we were called to build it.
Acton Academy is more than a school. It is part of a global learning revolution that is redefining what education can and should be. A place where learners take ownership of their growth, where Socratic discussions replace lectures, where meaningful work takes center stage, and where children are trusted to rise.
Launching Acton Academy Victoria is the culmination of our Hero’s Journey—but it’s also just the beginning. Because now, we’re inviting you to begin your journey. Whether you're a parent seeking something radically different, a learner ready to discover your gifts, or someone who believes in a better way—there is a place for you in this story.
This is a revolution. This is a calling.
Welcome to Acton Academy Victoria. Let the journey begin.
FAQs will be placed here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Acton Academy Victoria a Montessori school?
We respect and incorporate Maria Montessori’s philosophy, but we are not a Montessori school. We also use the latest interactive technologies, hands on projects and the Socratic Method for discussions.
Is Acton Academy Victoria a religious school?
We are a secular environment open to Believers, Searchers and Non-Believers alike, exposing children to the importance of mindful spirituality and stressing the historical importance of Christianity to the development of Western Civilization.
Who was Lord Acton?
Lord John Emerich Edward Dahlberg Acton (1834-1902) was a Victorian scholar of Freedom who saw liberty not as a license, but as the freedom to do what was right. He was suspicious of power for the sake of power, which led to his most famous quote: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." At the Acton Academy, we celebrate his defense of economic, political, and religious freedom.
What do you mean by a hero's journey?
We believe that each of us has a special calling in life, and a series of trials and tests that must be faced with integrity and purpose in order to live a satisfying and fulfilled life. Our mission is to prepare your child for his or her special journey.
What is an "independent learner"?
Someone who can research questions, follow instructions, solve problems—admit that they don't know something and figure out a solution when they hit a roadblock without asking an adult for help — participate in discussions, and strive for mastery.
What do you mean by a "running partner"?
Running Partners are classmates who meet together regularly to set goals and hold each other accountable for meeting those goals. Running Partners encourage and inspire each other by asking good questions, listening, and providing affirmation.
Will children be grouped into grades?
We believe that children learn best when working with children younger and older than themselves rather than split up into groups based solely on age. In addition to individualized curriculum, all ages of students work together in groups.
Does Acton Academy Victoria serve special needs children?
We are not trained to serve children with serious learning disabilities but have been able to serve young heroes with dyslexia if they receive special training and believe that many minor learning disabilities are commonly misdiagnosed.
What do you mean by "every child can change the world"?
We believe each of our students will find a passion — something they love and have a gift to do. They will use this gift to serve others and fulfill a need they are passionate about in the world. This may be by becoming a shoe-shiner who tells stories and makes people's day just by doing his job with love and vigor; it may be by becoming a coach who sees the light in a child’s eyes and guides her to pursue a dream; it may be by becoming a father or mother who leads a family on a Hero's Journey; it may be becoming an entrepreneur or business leader guided by compassion and integrity; or it may be by becoming an artist or writer who brings beauty to people's lives.
When is Acton Academy Victoria launching and what ages will you be accepting?
We are excited to announce our anticipated launch in September 2026. We are currently in the process of applying to become a certified Independent School in British Columbia. Pending interim approval from the Ministry of Education, we plan to begin accepting enrollment applications in January 2026. Our initial offering will serve learners aged 5 to 9, corresponding to Kindergarten through Grade 4.
What does it mean that Acton Academy Victoria is a Group 3 Independent School?
Acton Academy Victoria is currently in the process of obtaining certification as a Group 3 Independent School through the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care.
This designation allows us to remain independent and innovative—giving us the freedom to:
Hire exceptional guides who embody our learner-driven philosophy, without the limitation of requiring a BC teacher certification.
Follow a flexible, mastery-based curriculum that empowers students to learn at their own pace and pursue meaningful goals rather than follow a standardized approach.
We believe this freedom enables us to stay true to Acton’s mission: helping every young person discover a calling and change the world.
As a Group 3 school, Acton Academy Victoria is:
Not able to receive any government funding
Not required to hire BC-certified teachers
Not required to teach the BC curriculum
Not permitted to offer BC Graduation certificates
In addition, a review of curriculum is not included in Ministry of Education and Child Care inspections of Group 3 schools.
Will Acton Academy Victoria offer a High School program?
We plan to launch a High School program in the future as our learners grow. Our goal is to provide a variety of pathways that support each learner’s unique goals and calling.
This will include flexible partnerships and learning options—so that learners who wish to pursue a BC Dogwood Graduation Certificate will have opportunities to do so, while others may choose alternative routes aligned with their passions, apprenticeships, or entrepreneurial pursuits.
The most amazing outcome at Acton is that young heroes there are genuinely enthralled with learning. Simply said, they LOVE school.
Heather Staker
Ready to Blend
"Acton Academy is one of the most important education developments in the world."
Tom Vander Ark
CEO of Getting Smart
“I am confident that any randomly-selected ten-year-old from Acton would have succeeded instantly where at least some MIT graduates failed.”
Matt Greenfield
Rethink Education