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Burnside High School

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Burnside High School
(Te Kura o Waimairi-iri)
Location
Map
Greers Road, Burnside

Christchurch
,
8053

New Zealand

43°30′27″S 172°34′34″E / 43.5075°S 172.5762°E / -43.5075; 172.5762
Information
TypeState, non-integrated
MottoLatin: Recte Sic Dirige Cursum
(Along this path direct your journey correctly)
Established1960
Ministry of Education Institution no.
319
Principal
Scott Haines
Years9–13
GenderCoeducational
Enrollment2,724[1] (July 2026)
Socio-economic decile
8P[2]
Websiteburnside.school.nz

Burnside High School (Māori: Te Kura o Waimairi-iri) is a state co-educational secondary school located in the suburb of Burnside in Christchurch, New Zealand. With a roll of 2,724 students,[1] it is the largest school in New Zealand outside Auckland,[3] and is among the country's four largest schools.

History

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The Burnside property, an area of 59 hectares (150 acres), belonged to Canterbury University College (later the University of Canterbury) as an endowment. When the college considered moving away from its central city site, the Burnside property was considered, but the college purchased what is now known as the Ilam campus in the late 1940s instead. A reduced land area was used by the Ministry of Education for Burnside High School.[4]

In April 1958, the Christchurch Post-primary Schools’ Council unanimously recommended Burnside High School be constructed and by a 7–2 margin recommended it as a single-sex girls' school.[5] The lack of consultation, opposition from the community, and incorrect interpretation about demand for girls' secondary school places saw the council rescind its decision to make Burnside a single-sex girls' school. On 24 June 1958, the council voted by a 6–4 margin to recommend Burnside be a coeducational school.[6] Cabinet approved construction of the school in August 1958.[7] Tenders for the first stage of construction were called, closing on 30 January 1959. Approval of a construction tender was delayed until late March 1959,[8] losing three months of dry weather for construction and risking the completion in time for the 1960 school year. The tender for the first stage was let to John Calder Limited for £160,000, and construction began in mid-April 1959.[9]

Cabinet approved construction of the school in August 1958.[10] Tenders for the first stage of construction were called, closing on 30 January 1959. Approval of a construction tender was delayed until late March 1959,[11] losing three months of dry weather for construction and risking the completion in time for the 1960 school year. The tender for the first stage was let to John Calder Limited for £160,000, and construction began in mid-April 1959.[12]

Burnside High School officially opened to students on 2 February 1960, with an initial intake of 230 third-form (now Year 9) students.[13]

A swimming pool was added in 1961, which became fully functional in 1964 after the addition of filtration equipment. The gymnasium was soon constructed afterwards. In 2004 and 2005 construction of two new blocks, a library and an administration area began. These were opened in 2006 by Helen Clark, then Prime Minister of New Zealand. The school's fiftieth jubilee was held in 2010, attended by John Key, an ex-pupil and Prime Minister of New Zealand. Following damage caused by the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, Avonside Girls' High School shared the facilities of Burnside High School. Avonside Girls' High School relocated back to their home site in 2012.[14] Burnside High School, due to being relatively undamaged and with power and water restored shortly after the quake, was used as a welfare centre by Civil Defence.[15]

On 28 March 2012 the school was put into lockdown after students reported seeing a man walking the grounds carrying a silver pistol, which was later found by police to be plastic.[16]

Enrolment

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Burnside, like many secondary schools in Christchurch, operates an enrolment scheme to help curb roll numbers and prevent overcrowding. The school's zone includes the suburbs of Burnside and Bryndwr, and parts of Bishopdale, Fendalton, Ilam and Avonhead.[17]

At the August 2013 Education Review Office (ERO) review of the school, the school had 2416 students enrolled, including 135 international students. Forty-seven percent of students were male and 53 percent were female. Sixty-three percent of students identified as European (including 56 percent as New Zealand European or Pākehā), 22 percent as Asian, eight percent as Māori, two percent as Pasifika, and five percent as another ethnicity.[18]

As of July 2026, Burnside High School has roll of 2,724 students, of which 199 (7.3%) identify as Māori.[1]

As of 2026, the school has an Equity Index of 416,[19] placing it amongst schools whose students have few socioeconomic barriers to achievement (roughly equivalent to deciles 8 and 9 under the former socio-economic decile system).[20]

Structure

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The school is split into four divisions – North, South, West and Senior – the first three consisting of students from Years 9–12 and Senior division consisting of only Year 13 students.[citation needed]

Allan Hunter was principal from 1969 to 1980, when he retired.[21] The current principal is Scott Haines, taking over from acting principal Andrea Magson in 2023.[22][23]

Grounds and facilities

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Like most New Zealand state secondary schools built in the 1960s, the school is largely built to the Nelson Two-Storey plan. The Nelson Two-Storey is distinguished by its two-storey H-shaped classroom blocks, with stairwells at each end of the block and a large ground floor toilet and cloak area on one side.[24] Burnside has four of these blocks: A, B, D, and E blocks (and the demolished F block). The school also has one 1970s standard S68 block, G block.[24]

The earthquake-prone administration block was closed in late 2024 for strengthening work before reopening in 2025.[25]

Academics

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As a state school, Burnside High School follows the New Zealand Curriculum (NZC). In Years 11 to 13, students complete the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA), the main secondary school qualification in New Zealand. Cambridge Mathematics (IGCSE, AS, and A Levels) has been offered for Year 11 to 13 students since 2011, and Cambridge Music has been offered for Year 11 to 13 students since 2022.[26]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "Decile Change 2014 to 2015 for State & State Integrated Schools". Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "Are you in one of NZ's biggest high schools? | School Leaver NZ". schoolleaver.nz. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  4. ↑ Gardner et al 1973, pp. 332–336.
  5. ↑ "Proposed Girls' High School for Burnside". The Press. 30 April 1958. p. 7.
  6. ↑ "Council's Vote on Burnside School". The Press. 25 June 1958. p. 7.
  7. ↑ "Burnside High School – Cabinet Approves Project". The Press. 8 August 1958. p. 12.
  8. ↑ "NEW HIGH SCHOOL – Approval For Burnside". The Press. 28 March 1959. p. 12.
  9. ↑ "BURNSIDE HIGH SCHOOL – Building Starts Next Week". The Press. 10 April 1959. p. 10.
  10. ↑ "Burnside High School – Cabinet Approves Project". The Press. 8 August 1958. p. 12.
  11. ↑ "NEW HIGH SCHOOL – Approval For Burnside". The Press. 28 March 1959. p. 12.
  12. ↑ "BURNSIDE HIGH SCHOOL – Building Starts Next Week". The Press. 10 April 1959. p. 10.
  13. ↑ "Two New High Schools Opened Yesterday". The Press. 3 February 1960. p. 14.
  14. ↑ Sue Hume (July 2011). "Avonside Newsletter 'Tatler' – July 2011" (PDF). Avonside Girls' High School. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  15. ↑ "Christchurch Earthquake: What you need to know". nzherald.co.nz. 27 February 2011.
  16. ↑ "Toy sparks gun scare at school". Stuff.co.nz. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  17. ↑ "eLearning Schools Search". Te Kete Ipurangi. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  18. ↑ "Burnside High School Education Review". Education Review Office. 9 October 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  19. ↑ "New Zealand Equity Index". New Zealand Ministry of Education.
  20. ↑ "School Equity Index Bands and Groups". www.educationcounts.govt.nz. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  21. ↑ Hunter, Allan (2015). "70th anniversary of the Normandy landings". 21st Annual report season 2014/2015 (PDF). The Willows Cricket Club. p. 59. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  22. ↑ "The Covid Queen". Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  23. ↑ Kenny, Lee (24 October 2023). "Top principal's regret over 'not being able to help' as he steps down after 42 years". Stuff. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  24. 1 2 "Catalogue of Standard School Building Types" (PDF). Christchurch: Ministry of Education. August 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  25. ↑ "Christchurch High School closes admin block due to low earthquake rating". Stuff. 13 November 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  26. ↑ "Course List – Burnside High School". Schoolpoint. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  27. ↑ Gates, Charlie (1 November 2021). "Christchurch comedian Jack Ansett nominated for prestigious Billy T Award". Stuff. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  28. ↑ "Donnelly: a name synonymous with Burnside High School and the Commonwealth Games | Burnside High School". www.burnside.school.nz. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
  29. ↑ "Two medals complete impressive haul for New Zealand track cyclists | Cycling New Zealand". www.cyclingnewzealand.nz. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
  30. ↑ Leggat, David (19 May 2006). "Canterbury's matador". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 27 July 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  31. ↑ Page, Emma (29 June 2015). "Matt Gibb talks Kiwi Living". Stuff. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  32. ↑ Husband, Dale (24 September 2022). "Tearepa Kahi and his pathway to Muru". E-Tangata. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  33. ↑ "Professor Kathryn McGrath". Science Learning Hub. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  34. ↑ Egan, Brendon (19 July 2016). "Burnside High duo impressing for plucky overachievers". Stuff. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.

Sources

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  • Gardner, W. J.; Beardsley, E. T.; Carter, T. E. (1973). Phillips, Neville Crompton (ed.). A History of the University of Canterbury, 1873–1973. Christchurch: University of Canterbury.
  • O'Connor, Paul (2009). Choosing the Right Path: Burnside High School 1960–2010. Christchurch: Silver Fox Publishing. ISBN 978-0-473-15685-5.
  • Jubilee Committee (1985). Burnside High School: the first 25 years, 1960–1985. Christchurch: Jubilee Committee.
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