Burnside High School

I am proud to be a former student of Burnside High School. The school provided me with an excellent education and many opportunities to develop academically, socially, and personally. The teachers were knowledgeable, supportive, and genuinely cared about helping students achieve their goals. One of the greatest strengths of Burnside High School is the wide range of academic, sporting, cultural, and extracurricular opportunities available to students. As one of New Zealand's largest secondary schools, it offers a diverse learning environment where students can discover and pursue their interests. The school is well known for its strong academic standards, excellent facilities, and supportive pastoral care system. I particularly appreciated the multicultural environment, which allowed me to meet people from many different backgrounds and develop lifelong friendships. The school encouraged respect, excellence, and personal growth, helping students prepare for future study and careers. Overall, my experience at Burnside High School was very positive, and I am grateful for the knowledge, skills, and values I gained during my time there. I would highly recommend Burnside High School to students looking for a well-rounded and high-quality education in Christchurch.

I got harassed by a group of girls and became super paranoid to be at school to the point I cried every morning for weeks straight and when I was late because of this, the “trusted adult” I was supposed to go, to told me I was just being dramatic and that I should just get to school on time??

crazy amount of bullying for a school that says they are vibrant and lively, ik a friend who got beat up, reported it, and got framed for smth else by person who beat them up and that person got no punishment, most teachers and staff members don't care about you at all and only care about the reputation of the school. Yes I know all schools have bullying problems but the way this school doesn't really put any effort to management is actually so embarrasing I can't imagine going to a school like this, so glad I moved and my older sibling who graduated from this school hates this school too

My sibling genuinely got her shit rocked and the school lowkirkenuenly didn't do anything. The uniform is bum and people are master baiters in the bathroom and I don't mean their catching fish. Some teachers r lowk nice but a lot r kinda bum. They care too much about the uniform even tho its butt quality and blazers genuinely ripped even tho the people wearing weren't obese. Shoutout to the orchestra teacher she's fire, that's my twin. People here genuinely drug girls and rape them. Deadass It's diabolical. I wish we had non-uniform I feel like a freaking nun. Also the building stink of shit, and so do the students. Canteen expensive and everybody here broke asf.

I’m a year 10 who used to go to Burnside, I now go to another school which I will not disclose due to privacy reasons. In my honest opinion, there are definitely things the school can improve on, but nonetheless it is a good school. The subjects are good, they have nice clubs, and if you get the right teachers your year will be a blast. Alas, no schools are perfect. Especially this one. The bullying is immense and they don’t do much about it. If you’re falling behind and you have a bad teacher they don’t really care. The workload is stressful. If you’re surrounded by friends and good teachers it’s a fantastic school, no doubt! But be aware of the complications before enrolling.

Wasted 4 years of my life and feel incredibly let down by Burnside. This school cares more about their image than their students. Unless you are already excelling or can represent them in some way they could not care less about you. Upon entering university I realised how let down I had been by this school. The students struggling the most are the ones being consistently let down.

I am actually a current Yr 10 student who goes to Burnside High School. I've seen countless reviews on how the school is terrible and saying how the school isn't so great, stating how there're terrible students, bad teachers, pricey uniform, etc. I frankly agree with them, but it's not like Burnside High School is the only school facing these current problems, other schools in New Zealand and around the world are facing them, too! When I started Burnside High School last year, the classmates I ended up with are relatively chill, minding their own businesses and chilling with their friends. Of course, not everyone was like that, but what can we expect? The world is a huge place, and there are many types of people, whether or not it's pleasant to acknowledge it. I had great teachers who helped me find easy tips and tricks in class, I made great friends along the way who are studious like me, and I'm not complaining! Of course, Yr 9 wasn't all rainbows, with crappy substitutes, dealing with some certain people shit-talking, but it's all a part of life. From my personal experience in international schools, I'd say that Burnside High School isn't anything new! The only difference? I'm not in primary anymore, and everyone knows a lot more now, about the internet, about slangs, and sometimes trying a bit too hard to fit in with trends, getting boyfriends, vaping, etc. For me, Burnside High School is a real eye-opener, a taste of the world. Sure, the uniform is pricey, and they make us wear loads of stuff, but what can we do? Unless we do some petition to get the old uniform back, nothing's happening! As I say this, and for any other fellow Burnside High School students reading this; Take this as an opportunity, take Burnside High School as an opportunity! You're lucky to be in a big school with lots of people you'll meet, some pleasant, some absolutely shit! Whether it's teachers or other fellow students! Some other people are not so lucky to have this! Burnside High School is an opportunity for you to open your eyes, and see what things truly are like. With teachers who have experience with different aspects of life, and getting to know other students from different cultures and parts of the world! My honest opinion on this school? It's an opportunity! So don't shoot it down.

lowkey the other reviews hating. the uniform rules are strict as and some of the facilites r buns. but it aint that bad they just hating to hate. they think they at a private school ?????you won't get jumped ive been at the school 2 years and i have seen 2 people be jumped entire time. just dont be a egg and you will be alr. but i promise i aint glazing ts school mid ash

As a current year 10 here, this school is mediocre at best, i’m just tired going everyday and meeting teachers who i swear are discriminating on purpose, because what the hell do you you mean my friend got told off for saying “miss what did he do?” And MOST of the female teachers, not all female teachers i swear are sexist, i slightly pull out my device, immediately told off but a group of girls literally yelling with their devices out, nah the most they get is a “please quiet down” and if you begin to fall behind in the system, i swear this school doesn’t try to let you catch up, just keep going forwards If your talent isn’t something you can immediately show off, then you’re pointless here, just another piece that they use for statistics, to be a number and nothing else, overall oh and if you have begun to form a liking or talent towards something especially in a choice subject, then burnside won’t care about it, i honestly wish i’d gone to papanui instead of here

New student here, had really low expectations for the school cuz of the extremely bad reviews students had posted, however after transferring from a so called top private school in New Zealand and coming to burnside, I actually had a great experience. School facilities are fine, don't know why studnets complain so much about it on reviews, cuz tbh your not even paying any real direct school fee .... In my opinion the facilities are fine for public school standard, if you don't like it then go pay $30,000 for private education. About racist language, and behaviour stuff mentioned on previous reviews is true. However, I think the intention is much pure, like it doesn't contain extreme hate or anything, its more like joking around. And, really what school in New Zealand or any school around the globe doesn't have these problems? The answer is probably any school with a bunch of immature kids will have these problems, and burnside's environment is actually much more accepting and kind cuz of it's students are really diverse with literally every ethnicity. Now talking about education quality, burnside definitely has a standard education pretty similar to my old private school- infact it is actually better. From my personal experience, my teachers this year are great, Bio teacher is actually teaching (slides, scipad, modelling, white board) which really contrasts from my old school bio teacher who doesn't teach anything, just sitting there and make us do notes from a slide she put up. Math teacher i got this year is a guy with a funny accent who really pushes us to do exercise pages which I find helpful. Geo teacher is a lovely lady who really cares about my social life in school as a new student, however could improve on maybe keeping the lesson more organised and add more structural stuff. And lastly, my eco teacher i got this year is AMAZING !!!!!! SHOUT OUT TO MRS. BARKER !!! She is enthusiastic with teaching, keeps the class thinking and gives us lots and lots of exercises to do which i found extremely helpful in revising for internals. I am really grateful for having Mrs.Barker this year for economics and I'm actually thinking of taking business next year if i get her, hopefully. Overall, if you are a parent or student, Burnside high is definitely a school you should consider. School cares about students progress, needs, and provides a good education quality with a wide variety of subjects you can choose from, giving options for both university pathway and early career pathway. Lastly, I am no prefect or anyone who want's to get somewhere with this review, I am just honestly enjoying life in burnside, so don't get me wrong with me being a "try hard".

Horrendous treatment of students, teachers blatantly discriminate and nothing is being done to warrant change in their department, narrow minded deans who put students at fault constantly. Students vape and fight each other more often than you can borrow a pen, drugs are easier to acquire than basic school stuff such as borrowing rubbers. overpriced canteen and horrendous programs personalised for social butterflies. No help provided for learning disabilities or other things that might impact a student's progress. Do not come to this school. Punishment doesnt fit the crime, you could get suspeneded for saying "ok" to a teacher before you get a punishment for harrasing other students.

this school is absolutely foul, worst students ever i hope they all ROT. the homophobia, racism and sexism at this school is insane, like it would take more then a jackhammer to drill the idea of doing something about it into a teachers head save yourself, do not come here

some of the teachers are nice but not a lot. I'm in year 10 and think I've had two or three teachers actually being nice over almost two years. the teachers claim to care about bullying and mental health but the only thing they'll actually do something about is if you're wearing the correct socks. it baffles me how a teacher can care more about SOCKS than if someone is thinking about suicide. and I don't get the deal with the new uniform, it's so unnecessarily expensive and we don't even get a winter uniform. I'm not buying a long-sleeved shirt for winter because just the uniform basics (two shirts, two skirts, a jacket/cardigan, and a blazer + tie ) are over $900. That is insanity considering this is a public school. Some students' families cannot afford that and buying a long-sleeved shirt for one won't make us any warmer and two, is just another unnecessary expense. There is absolutely no indoor seating allowed unless it's currently raining, which doesn't include if it finished raining two minutes before lunch and everything is soaking wet. even without the rain, I've had to sit outside for almost an hour at lunchtime in -1-degree weather with strong wind. DONT SEND YOUR CHILDREN HERE

i dont really like this its defenily full of drugs and people getting beat up of somthing small. i dont think this is a good school expeshaly if you dont want to do drugs i regret comming here its to easy to get away with stuff its easyer to vape than go on your phone at this school drugs are everywhere this is unexeable burnside really only cares how you look as a student and not any thing else alot of things wrong with this school, like drugs vapes , sex in bathroom, people masterbaiting in bathroom, people getting there nudes leaked, girls are getting raped, and girls are also faking there age to have sex with older guys, this schoool is just atroshus and they dont help with kids learning as you may be abke to see with my gramer

Burnside has so much wrong with it like why are the building another block when the ones they already have are falling apart, another thing wrong with burnside is the drugs I think I could get drugs quicker than I can borrow a pen and I’m not joking it’s that easy at burnside. The girls are getting raped and sexual assaulted. Guys and girls are getting nudes leaked. People are masterbaiting in bathrooms. People are bearing people up and bulling them for no reason. The teachers really don’t care in math I’m a bit behind and the teacher dosnt help me and when I ask for help he stops the whole class and makes me feel embarrassed and stupid for asking. There are some amazing teachers at burnside who help me in class and I have some good chats with some of my teachers. And this stupid phone rule is just not good becuase I see more vapes than phones now which probably isn’t good. I don’t know what people are on about with pear pressure I think it’s the opposite the vapers don’t want people on it there not bad people they just do bad things. I think schools need to focus on stoping the drugs and vapes before the phones Becuase now I can’t listen to music witch sucks because idk how listing music is worse than going to the bathroom to vape and do drugs. This is the grammer from a burnside high school student

This one PE teacher said that i was being bad at pe and ya want to know why its because it was nearly the end of school and i had to check the time and see if i had any important messages from my mum or any other family members and when i was checking she was being so sassy to me that she called me out for playing a game because apparently i was tapping the screen and she even admitted that she was being sassy saying it to other students in my class and then when the bell ring I was saying some thoughts out loud about her just my personal mind that i said out loud and she ears dropped and said are you talking about me and i was just standing there like what? then she was going on about how she doesn't Singley pick me to yell at By the way my friend was on his phone at one point and the teacher looked at him and didn't give him a bad time but my respond to the teacher was just ok because i don't want to complain and then she said why were you on your phone and i said i was just checking the time and looking at what i had tomorrow at school and she didn't even answer and then she was being sassy again saying Ill put you in dentation if i see you do that again even tho i was just checking the time when there was like 30 seconds of school left.

Honestly can’t believe they can even call themselves a good school, it’s honestly embarrassing how homophobic, racist and literally how disrespectful some of the student and sometimes the teachers here are. Especially the younger year levels, where is the management of these students behaviour after school? I’ve heard students cussing random people out, being downright racist and saying slurs to other students minding their own business or walking back home, and it’s disgusting. Not to mention some teachers at this school pick on new students that are shy, people are trying to go to school to learn they’re not trying to develop mental health issues. The classrooms and equipment are all old and run down, but the school still spends thousands on building new toilets and not renovating the run down classrooms. Classrooms are hot in the summer, and sometimes the heat pump would be on, in the winter the classrooms are so cold to the point where you can see your own breath. They care so much about school uniform and their image but how are some of these students getting away with their behaviour, terrorising everyone around them like they own the place?? I’m embarrassed that I ever considered that things would get better at this school.

Burnside is a great school with awesome opportunities, the teachers know what they're on about and actually want to teach. The extra curricular activities at Burnside range from drama club all the way to underwater hockey, so you can guarantee there is a place for everyone.

I didn't really like my time at this school because the students were rude I had my iPad broken by a bully and the school didn't do anything about it same with my friend the learning support was like being in year 1 again because that was all the work was like and they took me off the learning support after I passed a 1 with their help then the next year was a lot harder another problem I had was bussing the bus didn't stay at the school for very long and it made that hard for students who had PE last period because you weren't allowed to leave in your PE gear you had to get change fast to make it to the bus in time the students on the bus always misbehaved and made it miserable to bus