The first global online high school has announced former Prime Minister John Key as a board member.

Crimson Global Academy will begin "highly selective" enrolments in February.

The company will take on students studying for Cambridge exams, New Zealand scholarships and entry tests for American universities.

Executive Principal John Morris told Mike Hosking the school gives better access to quality education.

"For example, students at small schools around the country which don't offer many subjects are able to pick up one or two subjects from the Crimson online high school."

Morris says the school gives global access to the best teachers.

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