History Trip to Akaroa.

History is taught at three levels at Burnside High School. Programmes at all levels contain a mix of topic-based studies and student-based research activities, with an emphasis on an understanding of history in the local context as well as more global or chronologically remote contexts. More recently, the Department had modified its learning programmes to ensure that history students are provided with a background in New Zealand history at all levels.

Burnside High School History teachers are involved in leadership of their subject at the national and local level. The Head of History, Paul O’Connor, is a former Chairperson of the New Zealand History Teachers’ Association and former Chair of the Canterbury History Teachers Association for six years. Jon Land was CHTA Chairperson in 2005. Chris Walker was Secretary of CHTA in 2005-2006, while Richard Barnett was the Treasurer in 2006. Lesley McLachlan is the current Treasurer for CHTA.