St Andrew's College (Christchurch)

Great school, the people who are writing the negative reviews are social outcasts who would not fit in anywhere.

A pervasive culture of bullying. The school's directors never seem to learn.

Our children have been at STAC since year 5 and are now in years 10/12. The school is an amazingly positive and inclusive environment and they make real efforts to support neurodiverse students. Every school has challenges and STAC is no exception however they generally handle conflict well. The teachers are wonderful and really care about the individual success of each student. I would 100% make all the financial sacrifices all over again to send our children to STAC.

I cannot begin to even start here. I genuinely believe this school has the same level of education as a public school, if not worse. I have experienced bullying as many others have, and it never ends. The people here are toxic, including abusive and aggressive teachers as well as misogynistic + racist students. Diversity is NOT in any way encouraged, and the oppression in any alternative cultures is insane. The only good thing about this school is the music lessons, in which I probably could’ve got for cheaper out of school nonetheless. The music teacher used to throw things, and the other one publicly humiliates students and tells private information about students to other students.This school may be co-ed, but men here are encouraged to be misogynistic without punishment, as well as racist and ableist to students of different races or disabilities. Once the bullying got too much for me, I started going to counselling. They blamed me. Asked what I did wrong and that I should apologise when it was evident by my therapist that there was nothing my fault. During panic attacks the block is closed to anyone who doesn’t have a booking, so for those with anxiety disorders they only have the bathrooms to be. Messaging them on teams responds with being ignored, and when I attempted suicide they lied to my parents and said they have no ideas when the solid evidence was left on read. The students are uneducated on neurodiversity, and as one, I have had absolutely no help nor are any teachers even aware on how to teach alternatively, and rather use the “old school” writing on a board and yelling techniques. Many teachers made me behind in classes due to not allowing questions or refusing to help. They also have evident favourites which made me very unsafe. I have never felt more unsafe coming to school, knowing that there is no reprocussions for severe bullying, yet there is detentions for wearing uniform wrong. Sexual assaults have been hidden, they don’t allow for anybody to speak of things that may seem bad on their name. The boarders have complained to me about how horrible their food is, and we got yelled at during biology one time because somebody swabbed the cafeteria and it was dirty. The food looked inedible. Sports is alright, as much as it costs, but the team ethic is toxic and I received hate for existing. P.E. is compulsory even for those with physical disabilities, I had 3 different exemptions and they didn’t listen. They told me I was making excuses but I have a chronic disorder. Of course, I was bullied by team members for being slower than others due to inconsiderable students. Even my parents would complain about the uniforms, students were constantly sick and made to come to school so they wouldn’t miss time because the pricing and material of the uniforms were not in any way warm. There was never enough room for people to stay inside during cold days, as the “wet days” in which we were allowed inside tutor classrooms it had to be absolutely pouring. I don’t want anyone to go through what I had to. Please do your research, this place is horrible and should not even be open. This school is capitalist and narcissistic.

This school isn’t even worthy of a rating as it is so terrible. I remember a few years ago my friend got SA by one of the peers and he only got 2 day suspension. The bullying is violent, passive and also online but the teachers refuse to put effort into helping those experience cyber bullying from other students as it is not in school. They do not offer much help with learning disabilities or mental health issues and expect everyone to make the school look good when it really isn’t. The only people who get recognition are Māori, musicians or good at sport. Everyone else is put into a minority and neglected with any type of issue. They deny all negative comments made about the school with excuses that don’t make sense.

Extremely poor Educators at STAC. Requires a change of Board of Trustees and Principal. I would certainly recommend Rangi Ruru and Christ College.

I was so excited to go here, until the endless cruelty of the students bullying started “everyone hates you in our class “ i was just trying to fit in when I would get relentlessly bullied just cause I didn’t fit in with them and I wasn’t like them, being 13 at the time I wondered “what did I do to deserve this “ I didn’t do anything wrong ,little 13 year old me shouldn’t have wanted to end my life all because of being bullied that badly

Don't send your kids here. Systemic bullying issues that have never been resolved. Racism and misogyny are standard. I recall a pervasive culture of bullying, even including a tradition of hazing 3rd-formers. The only kids who ever got support from staff were those that the school could use for PR, such as the sporting or academic achievers - the rest were just a source of revenue, left to fend for themselves. Despite numerous complaints, staff ignored it, until the Commissioner for Children launched a ministerial inquiry that resulting in a damning report, which is available publicly: https://www.worldcat.org/title/report-of-the-commissioner-for-children-on-complaints-of-bullying-at-st-andrews-college-christchurch-december-1994/oclc/154162691 The Commissioner threatened to close the school unless it made certain changes, hence all the PR by the school in recent years. It's cringe-worthy seeing them promoting diversity. I remember boys calling each other the N word, or "woman", if they were poor at sport. Some more links of interest, which may give a hint as to the true culture of STAC (what I found after a quick google): https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/102645767/st-andrews-college-student-referred-to-youth-aid-after-sexual-complaint https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/private-school-staff-at-loggerheads/ACLF5CBCK4OYTOSCYC2EY4N55I/ https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/418546/christchurch-school-investigating-after-black-lives-matter-posters-torn-down

Was great when I first started and steadily went downhill. By the time I graduated I couldn’t wait to get out. Any problems that I had were faced with the attitude that the schools image mattered more than student wellbeing. The music department is toxic and destroyed my mental health. Be careful.

Some students are entitled which can be off putting. However, teachers are incredible, facilities are fantastic, and I feel completely catered for.