The academy is located at the school’s Armidale campus and involves a comprehensive training and competition program developed by Grant Quigley, one of Australia’s most respected cutting trainers.

 Quigley has been signed on as head coach of the program and will be supported by three full-time NEGS staff to ensure all facets of the program are met.

Cutting is a highly competitive sport that offers substantial prize money as well as one of the most spectacular horse sports available. 

The NEGS academy caters to beginners through to seasoned competitors who have ambitions to compete at a national level.

The Australian home of cutting – Tamworth – is on NEGS’ doorstep, so the opportunity to participate at major shows or attend clinics and also watch showcase events means easy travelling and little disruption to academic responsibilities.

The program contains cutting coaching three times a week, plus Bison clinics, a mechanical cow, show participation and attendance and horsemanship lessons.

New innovations such as wellbeing classes that address cross training benefits, diet suggestions and preparing mentally for competition have also been included in the academy curriculum.

NEGS has been entrusted with providing young women of Australia and overseas with a holistic and widely respected education since 1896. 

The motivation to launch the cutting academy was to enable girls from across rural Australia an opportunity to facilitate their passion for cutting whilst gaining a world-class education.

Due to the generous donation by a long-time donor to NEGS, the school can offer very generous fee subsidisation up to 70 per cent  of normal fees that includes both tuition and boarding.