Whanganui Collegiate School

Had 3 children go to WCS. All were well looked after and if you want plenty of attention for your kids to perform - this is the place to go. There's no where to hide or slack off! Interestly kids that came to WCS from other schools raved about it - that really makes you realise how good it is.

We sent our son to Collegiate after one year at a large day school elsewhere. He was drifting, nothing bad but making as little effort as possible. Collegiate put structure around his life and got him engaged in everything including sport, music, service in the community and his academics. When he used to call and say he had so much on he didn't know how he was going to get it all done it was music to my ears. He has learnt that he actually can do much more than he though he could and is well setup to manage himself when he leaves. Best decision we ever made for him. BTW re the negative reviews, they seem so far off from our experience that I have to wonder if they are legitimate

this is the worst school you could ever attend. They do not give any cares about their students and how there well being and meant is they will just punish you for no reason. They girls boarding house is just so toxic and full of fake girls and the seniors are always targeting the yr 9-10s over nothing. all this school cares about is there reputation and what other people from outside care about them they will not listen to any of the students or anything the teachers are always up in your business and finding stuff about you and then proceeds to look at you like your a criminal and they told us not to snoop around and get in other peoples business but yet here they are doing exactly what they told us not to do. Do not send your kids here they will just turn out miserable and then turn into a even worse teenager then they could already be.

Whanganui Collegiate is an excellent school with an amazing amount of opportunities that promote character development. They also have an exceptional leadership team that establishes personal relations with every student and helps to grow them into leaders of their own.

Great on the outside, Average at best on the inside. Most of the teachers and other Staff are pretty good and want to help you it's more of the environment Inside of the boarding house where it changes , it has gotten alot better from what I've heard but there is still constant issues with the kids where it's bullying, vaping or other things

Schools pretty bad would recommend

If you’re not apart of a past family, or a big family apart of the community, you’re pretty much an outcast. The racism runs wild throughout the school and it sucks to be a POC at a Collegiate. There has been too many incidents revolving around race where the school has taken the side of the offender rather than the victim. People will blatantly belittle and pretty much hate you if you’re not white, skinny and rich. It’s also sexist af and girls are constantly put below and belittle by the boys and staff. The amount of alcohol consumed by students and parents at school events is horrendous and just outright wrong. Sexual assault of girls and boys is swept under the carpet. The education and opportunities which Collegiate offers are genuinely quite good but it is not worth putting your child in that culture and environment. Collegiate prides themselves on old traditions but at this point it’s pretty much abuse and the culture is ******* horrendous. They have a very good PR team which makes it look like an amazing school but in reality it’s just a coverup for what is happening behind closed doors.

Very good. My son has been given lots of opportunities. He has become a lot more mature, made good friends and has a sense of belonging and pride in attending the school. He has been taught by good teachers who have enabled him to Excell. Send your child if you want them to reach their potential they will be given great opportunities.

A very good school. When I went to Collegiate it was very good to the students and for sports. I'm not much into sports myself but I did have a lot of fun with my mates. My two younger sisters both go there now and love it. I made lots of good memories and friends that I'm still friends with now. Also good having 3 week holidays and half Wednesdays. Collegiate is a very good family school that involves the family a lot with collegiate weekends every term. The teachers are good and genuine who everyone has a nickname for. one thing I do recommend them changing is getting housemasters to actually care about the students and not be so controlling, but I guess that's what builds us as people. But Collegiate definitely lives up to its reputation of making lifelong friendships and having a good time. (food also isn't bad unless you don't like chips, burgers, cake etc.)

Sexist. Draconian. Non-progressive. Perpetuates white privilege and elitism.

The boys club (and old boys club, for that matter) is a toxic presence in this school. Misappropriation of power has been evidenced countless times over the years. I was sickened as a parent as to some of the experiences my kids had at this school. Put it this way, the PR machine is strong but what lies beyond the shiny veneer is concerning. Smoke and mirrors. Even if all you do is google the news reports about misadventure at this school in the last ten years - that ought to be enough to indicate what lurks beneath.

Collegiate is a school that is not at all focused on the students within the walls, and how they're doing. The school is focused on bringing more people in and having an illusion of control and orderliness. In reality, none of this is true. School is steeped in bias against boys, trying to make up for history, and refuses to admit it. Collegiate is a school that promotes over-working and gives no flexibility to students within collegiate. I enjoy my time here because I have good mates and I made it good. The school itself is poor beyond measure. It allows no freedom to students at all, and yet it still has a huge problem with controlling them. Unbelievably bad.

Whanganui Collegiate School is terrible towards students that have no family relation to the school. Teachers tend to harass students and house masters on the boarding side. Students tend to say how trapped and stressed they are. A number of incidents have been happening at the school including sexual assault in the houses boys with boys and boys with girls, substance abuse also goes on and racism/sexism. The school needs a real big change and I do not recommend sending your children here unless the school changes for the better.

Good academics and offers a lot of opportunities, but the students can be very cruel. Homophobia, racism and sexism is present and teachers fail to address it.

Good sailing program, good people, decent atmosphere.