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On a quiet, leafy residential street on the outskirts of North Vancouver stands a testament to a group of parents who wanted to ensure their children received the best education they could possibly give them.

Brockton Preparatory School, which offers the International Baccalaureate program to 94 students in kindergarten to Grade 10, is a new private school that grew out of the need to replace a nearby private school that closed in 2003.

Some parents of students in that school became concerned that their children's education choices would be limited as a result, so a group of 17 parents decided to pull out all the stops and start their own school. And they did it in less than a year, from concept to reality.

One of Brockton's founding parents, Dee Turner, calls their experience a "master class" for other parents wanting to build their own schools, and notes that private schools often take up to two years to be established.

Once the Brockton parents decided to take on the task themselves, they were passionate to get it off the ground, and quickly, Ms. Turner says. They joined forces, using their individual talents in areas such as human resources and marketing and as small business owners to add an entrepreneurial flair to the Brockton project. "We went in our own directions based on our skills set and did what needed doing and then came back together to our committees to decide how we wanted to go forward. There was so much to be done," Ms. Turner recalls.

She remembers an emotional summer before the school opened, when students and their families "came together as a family," working side-by-side to get everything ready.

The parents also provided thousands of dollars of capital (in the form of long-term, interest-free loans) to rent the building — actually, they took over the building of the school that had closed — hire staff and buy materials.

Ms. Turner says everyone considered it an investment, and when Brockton opened its doors in 2004, the sense of pride was palpable, she says.

"I'm actually welling up thinking about it," Ms. Turner recalls.

"Here were our kids in a newly designed uniform, walking into a new facility, where we had spent time on our hands and knees scrubbing, painting, and setting up desks," Ms. Turner says.

"My three kids were there on their summer holidays helping the teachers set up their classrooms.

"They knew the school intimately — every closet, every hanger. It was just awesome."

The result was a co-ed, independent, non-denominational school that offers all-day kindergarten, early French, small class sizes (fewer than 15 pupils) and an emphasis on creative inquiring and investigation, as outlined in the International Baccalaureate program.

Brockton Prep's fees range from about $10,000 to $13,000, depending on grade. Students are given a handbook of ethics and aims that explains the school's identity and is a statement of expectations — both for them, and of them.

The school's motto — "Believe. Strive. Excel" — captures its emphasis on challenging academic, athletic and extracurricular programs.

The key element that gave the parents the confidence to proceed with their plans, Ms. Turner says, was the man who now heads the school, Robin Hinnell.

He describes himself as a specialist in school startups, with 25 years' experience in private school administration in Canada and his native Britain. Mr. Hinnell has experience as the founding head at three independent schools, which gave him the expertise to delve into the mechanics of setting up the educational side of the school, such as hiring teachers and presenting the idea of following the International Baccalaureate to the board of governors.

When Mr. Hinnell came on board for Brockton, he was joined by several teachers from the school that had closed, who already knew the founding parents and their children.

"My skills set is to climb into the roller coaster and roll up the sleeves and just get it done. I'm not a maintenance guy, I'm a start-up guy," he says.

Regulations for private schools vary across the country, depending on provincial laws, so parents should check with their respective ministries of education for information. In British Columbia, for example, an independent school can open with just 10 pupils, Mr. Hinnell says.

"In British Columbia, it is relatively simple. In addition to 10 students, you have to have a person who is the principal, and a location that the local municipality deems to be a healthy place for children to assemble," he adds.

Another important element for Brockton Prep was its not-for-profit approach, meaning it is operated by a non-profit society. Mr. Hinnell thinks that for-profit independent schools don't work as well because the financial element shifts the focus from solely being about children and their education.

As for the students at Brockton Prep, it seems the parental efforts are paying off.

Ten-year-old Evan Klajnscek, for example, likes the language program and says the small classes are "really nice."

"At Brockton, we mainly study things for university prep and we review everything we've learned at the end of the year. I think I know a bit more stuff than my other friends who don't [come] here," says the Grade 6 pupil.

"And I like how we have shorter terms and a longer holiday, but that we have to get to school a bit earlier in the day and have a longer day. You get used to it."

Mr. Hinnell believes that although Brockton is still in the early stages, the essential building blocks are in place and the attitude of parents, teachers and students bode well for the future. The next step, he said, is to offer a program that goes all the way to Grade 12.

"We're three years old now — we started with 45 students and that has more than doubled. We have a lot of excitement, energy and aspiration. You have to be big on ambition," he adds.

"The catalysts were that group of parents: they had to want something for their children.

"The one thing in life that you can give your children, in my opinion, is an education. You can arrange for an education that suits your child."

Special to The Globe and Mail