Dozens of children are already on the wait list for a charter school in Christchurch

Mastery School in Hillsborough is one of three charters schools across the country opening its doors today.

Four more - including a second in Christchurch - open in the coming week.

It has 60 primary-aged children enrolled for term one and another 40 wait-listed.

Principal Rose McInerney says they do a few different things than other schools.

She says they have a longer school day, a higher ratio of teachers and assistants to students, and try to meet them exactly where they are in their learning.