Burnside High School

There is no closing date for applications. Full year courses commence in late January. Students may also apply to join the school at the beginning of the second semester in mid July.

Airport pickupis arranged for students who make homestay arrangements through the school. There is no charge for this service.

International students at Burnside High School must live in a familyhome,not in a flat or a boarding house. Our homestay coordinator will find a suitable homestay. Homestay currently costs NZ$220 per week.

Burnside High School attracts many students who are academically very able. The school has a focus on achievement and success in academic programmes.

We offer a wide range of subject options. Our innovative subject programmes lead, progressively, to senior levels where students are prepared for University and Scholarship examinations. We also cater for students with talents in other areas. We encourage all students to discover their talents, and to develop them to their full potential.

The academic achievements of students at Burnside High School are the envy of other schools and students throughout NZ. Each year BHS is amongst the leading schools in Scholarship and Bursary results. International students do well academically at Burnside High School, often gaining prizes and getting results which are comparable to or higher than our NZ students. This is due to strong guidance and support from the international department and from the teaching staff who work together to ensure the academic success of our students.

We offer a High School Preparation programme for students who require more support and instruction in the English language. Applications for the preparation programme can me made at any time. This class has between 10 - 18 students each year.

The happiness, safety and satisfaction of our students are of paramount importance to us. We place a strong emphasis on ensuring that students enjoy their experience in Christchurch, and on ensuring that parents are confident of the safety of their children. To meet this goal we have an extensive guidance network to provide educational, vocational and personal guidance for students.

Burnside High School has a very attractive campus of 16.2 hectares(40 acres) with trees, gardens, courtyards and expansive playing fields.

Our buildings are functional, modern and well maintained with specialist rooms for most subjects.

Enthusiastic staff coach a wide range of sport and assist with cultural activities which complement our students' academic pursuits and achievements.

Course Detail

We offer a full high school programme for Y9-13 (age 13 to 18)
Course Type: Full-time
Course Duration: One year at each year level. The High School Preparation programme is generally of either one or two semesters duration.
Description: Students are taught the NZ national curriculum. In Y9 and 10 students study core subjects with some options.
In years 11 to 13 students study 5 subjects from a choice of more than 25 subjects. English is compulsory in years 9 to 12.
Availability: Places are available to students with good academic background and a reasonable level of proficiency in English.
Start date: The academic year begins in late January. Semester 2 begins in mid July.

Hours of study per week: 25
International student ratio:approximately 7% of the total school roll.
Special features: Burnside High School has a well-deserved reputation for excellence in academic achievement. The school is widely regarded as NZ's top school for performance music education. Burnside has a strong Art Department and students consistently achieve excellent results at national level. Our High School Preparation programme enables students to improve their English language skills in a secondary school environment.