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Burnside High School

New Zealand, Christchurch

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees NZ$19,000
Ages 13 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 2600
Type Co-educational
Opened 1960
Bus Service No
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum, Cambridge (Secondary)
Taught languages Mandarin, French, German, Japanese, Spanish
Typical class size 26
Strengths Performing Arts, STEM, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Community and Service
Stages Secondary School
Introduction

Burnside High School is a co-educational state secondary school in Christchurch, New Zealand, serving students aged 13–18. The school offers a large bespoke curriculum aligned with Cambridge Secondary qualifications while delivering NCEA credits, and Cambridge IGCSE for Years 11–13. The 28-acre campus features Pukehinau, a 3600 square metre two-storey learning block opened in 2024 with 25 specialist spaces for science and technology, and Rakipaoa, opened in 2026 for English and social sciences. The Aurora Centre serves as the cultural hub for assemblies, performances and community events. Facilities include two gymnasiums, extensive sports fields and an all-weather artificial turf that doubles as tennis courts. The Specialist Music Programme, Drama, Dance and Visual Arts are active, alongside broad science, technology and mathematics offerings. Languages include Chinese, French, Japanese, Spanish and Te Reo Māori in Year 9, with German from Year 10. The International Students programme offers homestay opportunities to support cultural exchange.

151 Greers Road, PO Box 29 677, Christchurch 8440, New Zealand

Vibes and Culture
The school has not added this information
The Essentials

Burnside High School has 2,600 pupils, typical class sizes of 26, instruction in English.

Location
The school is located at 151 Greers Road, Christchurch 8440, New Zealand. It is in the Burnside area on Greers Road. The neighbourhood includes Jellie Park Recreation & Sport Centre nearby and is approximately 2 km from the University of Canterbury, making access to local facilities convenient. Public transport serves the area, and school bus routes such as Route 791 serve Burnside High School.

Stages
Year 9–13 (secondary)

Additional learning support
The Learning Support Department, Te Whare Akoranga, is a student-focused learning hub that welcomes and supports students who find learning challenging.

Country affiliation
New Zealand

Bus service
A bus service exists for Burnside High School, including School Route 791 which connects Parklands, St Bede's College, Papanui High School and Burnside High School. Roadworks around the school may cause changes to this route.
Diving Deeper
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Fees

Annual tuition at Burnside High School ranges from NZD 19,000 for 2026/27.

Application / Administration fees
- Administration (enrolment) fee: NZ$1,000 per offer.

Tuition fees (One Year Programme, four terms) — per term and per year
- Tuition fee (annual): NZ$19,000 per year (equivalent to NZ$4,750 per term). This tuition rate applies to the One Year Programme for international fee‑paying students.

Homestay / boarding arrangements and fees
- On‑campus boarding is not provided; homestay accommodation is used for international students.
- Homestay fee (weekly): NZ$370 per week (typical homestay rate). Special dietary requirements incur higher weekly charges (examples published for other years show separate rates). Homestay management fee: NZ$350 per offer. Designated caregiver fee: NZ$200 per offer.

Other compulsory government / external fees
- Government levy: NZ$100 per term.
- New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NCEA) fee: NZ$383 per year (where applicable).

Insurance and equipment
- Medical/travel/education insurance: school can arrange insurance; typical cost around NZ$650 (approx.) per year. Exact premium amounts vary.
- Laptops are not rentable from the school; students must bring their own device.

Uniform, stationery and other routine costs
- School uniform is not included in tuition or homestay fees. Approximate cost for a complete new uniform is stated at around NZ$600–NZ$700. Uniform is sold through an external supplier.
- Stationery and subject materials are additional. Stationery is available through a partnered supplier with online payment options. Subject‑specific materials, specialist course costs, sports fees, musical instrument hire and private tuition, and school trips are not covered by the standard tuition fee and must be paid separately.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- An Offer of Place and an invoice are issued after a successful application. Acceptance of the Offer of Place is confirmed when the tuition fees are received by the school.
- Tuition is shown as an annual amount and as a per‑term equivalent; invoices and acceptance procedures require payment in line with the invoice issued for the student's enrolment.

Payment methods / payment options
- Payment methods accepted for tuition and enrolment: cheque, credit card, or direct transfer (bank account details are provided on the invoice).
- Stationery supplier payment options include internet banking, credit/debit card and (subject to approval) Zip pay instalment options for orders.

Refund information
- No publicly published, detailed refund schedule for international tuition (pro rata refunds, cancellation deadlines, or refund processing timelines) is provided in the school's publicly accessible fee documents. The Offer of Place and the invoice process state that acceptance is confirmed on receipt of tuition fees; any specific refund, withdrawal or cancellation terms are typically set out in the formal enrolment/Offer documentation issued to the applicant.

Other costs and notes
- Administration/processing costs related to homestay placement are charged per offer (Homestay management fee). Special dietary requirements for homestays may increase the weekly homestay charge.
- Additional discretionary costs that can arise during the year include subject‑specific material charges, voluntary trips, extra‑curricular fees, instrument hire and private tuition. These are charged separately to the standard tuition fee.
Academics

Burnside High School teaches Bespoke Curriculum, Cambridge (Secondary) for students aged 13 to 18.

Curriculum
Burnside High School offers a very large curriculum across learning areas. Creative Arts includes Music, Visual Arts, Dance and Drama with senior specialist options. Mathematics is strong and includes Cambridge International Examinations for Years 11–13. Science provides general science to Year 11 and specialist options in Years 12–13, with field work and competitions. Languages include Chinese, French, Japanese, Spanish and Te Reo Māori in Year 9 (German from Year 10). Social Sciences are compulsory in Years 9–10 with senior options such as Geography, History and Economics, while Technology covers Digital Technologies, Electronics, Foods/Textiles, Hospitality and Design with senior pathways toward Building and Engineering. The school runs both NCEA and Cambridge qualifications and celebrates high scholarship outcomes.

Exam Results
Burnside High School reports strong examination results in NCEA and Cambridge. In 2025, 92 scholarships were awarded, including 13 at outstanding level. In 2023, NCEA Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 pass rates were 82.8%, 84.7% and 78.7% respectively, with Year 13 University Entrance at 66.2%. Cambridge results have included Top in New Zealand and Top in the World recognitions in Music, with 2024 Top in the World Cambridge IGCSE Music and 2025 Top in New Zealand Cambridge AS Music achievements by students.

Higher Education Progression
Higher education progression is supported through NZQA NCEA and Cambridge pathways. In 2023, 66.2% of Year 13 students achieved University Entrance. Scholarships and high achievement have helped graduates progress to universities such as the University of Canterbury and University of Auckland, with some students also pursuing international destinations such as Cambridge University for top scholars (examples include Bodhi Cath heading to the University of Canterbury and Andrew Wu to the University of Auckland; Sam Allan has earned Cambridge-adjacent accolades).

Gifted and Talented
Cambridge International Examinations are offered to senior students, with a Pilot Cambridge International Pathway planned for 2027 and a full Cambridge Pathway expected to run alongside NCEA from 2028. The Noeline Clark Foundation provides general excellence scholarships to Burnside students who continue their studies at the University of Canterbury. International Scholarships are available (six annually) across categories general academic, creative arts and technology, and sport to attract high-potential international students.
Wellbeing
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Parent Experience
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Facilities
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Extra-Curricular Activities
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Languages
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Reputation
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Admissions

Admissions
1. Eligibility and enrolment framework. Enrolment at Burnside High School Te Kura o Waimairi-iri follows the Ministry of Education enrolment scheme. In-zone students have the right to attend. Out-of-zone students are considered by ballot if spaces are available. Confirm whether your address is in the school zone.

2. Domestic enrolment process. Domestic students download and complete the enrolment forms. The Final Checklist on the last page of the enrolment form shows all required documentation. Refer to the coursebooks under documents and links for subject information. Enrolment packs are available for 2026 and 2027.

3. International fee-paying enrolment. International students should review the International Enrolment page for information. A video outlines the international enrolment process and apply online using the online enrolment form. The school provides key documents including the Enrolment procedure, Code of Practice, Homestay Guide, and International Prospectus in English, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean.

4. Timelines and key dates. For Year 9 2027 pre-enrolment closing dates are 24 July 2026; For Years 10-13 the closing date is 31 July 2026. In-zone enrolments are accepted throughout the year. An Open Evening is scheduled (for Year 9 2027) on 12 May.

Scholarships
Burnside High School offers six International Student Scholarships each academic year, in three categories: general academic, creative arts and technology, and sport. They are open to first-year students only. Three scholarships commence at the start of the school year and three for mid-year starts. Scholarships are worth 20% of the published tuition fee for the enrolment period. Applications require the student's most recent school report, copies of relevant awards, a letter of recommendation from a teacher or coach, a short letter in English outlining achievements and why the student should receive the scholarship, and a short video. Applicants must complete international student enrolment and submit supporting documents by email to international@burnside.school.nz; scholarship videos can be sent via Dropbox or WeTransfer to the same address.

Waitlist
Out-of-zone enrolments are considered by ballot if spaces are available.
School Events
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