Our Curriculum
Learning areas
Students at Burnside High are able to access a very large curriculum of opportunities to find their path in life. Full details of our offering here at Burnside High School can be accessed from our Learning Areas website.
Our curriculum
Our curriculum is broadly based around the following learning areas:
Creative Arts
Creativity has become extremely important in our ever-changing world. Fundamentally it allows students the opportunity to develop an openness to new experiences that promote personal drive and grit. Within the Creative Arts Faculty students can study in the areas of Music, Visual Arts, Dance and Drama, with more specialist areas available in the senior school.
At Burnside High School, we are fortunate to have some of the most respected Creative Arts teachers in New Zealand, who share their passion for their subjects with each student they encounter. For over 25 years, the Creative Arts Faculty has been at the forefront of achievement nationally and internationally and continues to solidify this reputation each year, with multiple awards and scholarships consistently being achieved and awarded.
English
English at Burnside High School involves both literature and language studies. Students are encouraged to appreciate and enjoy texts in all their forms: novels, poetry, plays and film. Developing reading, writing and communication skills is fundamental to each course of study. There are a range of courses available to enable every student to reach their potential in English, and, in doing so, prepare them to make a positive contribution to our global society.
There is the option to study media in our senior school. Media Studies is a contemporary subject that is a blend of theory and creative expression. Students gain a sound foundation in the concepts and theories of media studies and also design and produce media products.
Students who need extra support in learning English are catered for with a range of English as a Second Language courses which are designed for them to become independent and confident users of the English language.
Health and Physical Education
Health and physical education at Burnside High School is engaging and challenging for its students. There is the opportunity to excel in both the practical and theoretical components of the courses.
In years 9 and 10, the focus is on the wellbeing of students themselves, of other people, and of society through learning in health-related and movement contexts. There is a strong emphasis on developing practice and interpersonal skills. An outcome for students is that they are more confident in their own ability and have confidence to try new activities and understand the link between physical activity and wellbeing.
The Health and Physical Education curriculum also encompasses outdoor education and pursuits, sports leadership and performance.
Senior students have the opportunity to select their topics for assessment which enables them to choose their preferred area of interest.
Languages
Burnside High School offers Chinese, French, Japanese, Spanish and Te Reo Māori at Year 9. We offer German from Year 10.
In Year 9, it is compulsory to study a language of their choice for half a year. If a student wishes to continue with a language into Year 10 and beyond, they will need to study a full year of the language in Year 9.
Each year, the languages department has several events, including International Languages Week and a mardi gras with food and music from different cultures.
We have a sister school, Higashi-Fukuoka, located in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan and students are offered the opportunity to visit in alternate years.
Throughout the year, we have a large contingency of international students on exchange or studying short term at Burnside High School. We are fortunate that these students often get involved with helping in our language classrooms, giving students the opportunity to talk with and listen to a native speaker.
Mathematics
The Burnside High School Mathematics Department has been one of the leading mathematics departments nationally for the past 25 years. Over that period, students have achieved high levels of success in both national assessments and national and international competitions.
Each year the number of scholarships gained by our students places us in the top five schools in the country. Large numbers of our students continue to study mathematics, or related subjects such as engineering or physics, at tertiary level.
The mathematics department is a large, well resourced, and staffed by an enthusiastic and experienced group of teachers. To meet the needs and abilities of our students, a variety of different courses are taught at the various year levels. In addition to NCEA, the Cambridge International Examination curriculum is taught to the more able students in Years 11 to 13.
Students are encouraged to enter competitions at local, national and international level. A number of Burnside High School students have been selected to represent New Zealand at the International Mathematics Olympiad over previous years.
Science
Science allows us to understand the world around us, to marvel at and investigate everything from the very small to the very large.
At Burnside High School all students study general Science until the end of Year 11, covering all the different fields of science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and the Planet Earth and Beyond. Students will also gain an understanding of how scientists work and the skills needed to be successful in scientific fields.
Once students reach Year 12 they can specialise in any of the following areas: Biology, Chemistry, Physics or continue with General Science. The senior science subjects are very popular at Burnside High School with a large number of our students continuing on to study science at university and pursue scientific careers.
All of our courses offer a balance of theoretical and practical work with trips to local universities and field work, where possible, to support the content studied in class. Outside of the classroom, there are also local and international competitions students can enter at all levels to test their skills against other students.
Social Sciences
In Social Sciences, students are able to participate as critical, active, informed and responsible citizens. Students will have an understanding of their place in society and how they can have an impact on our world. They will be able to identify, value and understand people’s values, viewpoints and perspectives.
Burnside High School students will understand that decisions that are made by individuals, groups, communities and nations can have various effects on others in our world. Students will have an understanding of the bicultural nature of our society from exploring Ti Tiriti o Waitangi. Learning about past events, experiences and actions will help students understand why we have the society that we have.
Students will actively explore contemporary issues which will help them understand the ever changing world we live in. The concepts explored in Social Studies explicitly link through to senior social science subjects.
Social Studies is compulsory in Years 9 and 10 and students are able to choose Geography, History, Economics, Accounting, Business Studies, Classical Studies, Legal Studies and Tourism in the senior school.
Students will develop strategies which enable them to actively seek, use and create knowledge beyond the school environment. Skills taught throughout the Social Sciences programmes will help Burnside High School students to process, analyse, critically evaluate and clearly communicate information.
The Social Sciences provides students with the opportunities to have active experiences in the real world through field trips, research and social action.
Active teaching strategies focus on engaging and motivating students to achieve to the best of their ability, strive for excellence and to enjoy the love of learning.
Technology
The Technology Faculty encompasses a wide range of subjects that all involve theoretical and practical activities of varying forms.
In the Digital Technologies and Electronics Department students learn using a variety of digital and materials tools. There are a number of subjects available at junior and senior levels, including Software Engineering and Computer Science, Electronic Engineering Product and Game Design. Students learn the fundamentals of electronics, programming, 2D and 3D modelling, and then at senior level refine these skills in projects as individuals or in teams.
Within the Foods and Textiles Department there are also a variety of options. Food Technology looks at the technical components of food and in Food and Nutrition, students learn the value of eating a well-balanced diet and the role of food in our general wellbeing.
In early Childhood Studies, students focus on the development of young children, the different roles within the family group and how youngsters learn.
The focus in the Hospitality subjects is the preparation and presentation of food suitable for a commercial environment.
In Textiles Technology the students learn the basics of constructing items using fabric and the sewing machine, before they move onto understanding how garments are designed and made.
Materials Technology and Design and Visual Communication students work with a combination of wood, metal and plastic to create usable items. In the senior school, students might choose to work in more specialist classes such as Building and Construction or Engineering Skills.
Design and Visual Communication involves drawing buildings, or part thereof. The drawing is done by hand and then using a CAD program on computers.
Academic success
Burnside High School consistently performs on the national and international stage. We are particularly proud of our NCEA results, where our students attain scholarships and outstanding endorsements across our curriculum each and every year. We lead Canterbury in this respect and have great pride in our students for seeking these excellence endorsements.
In 2025, Burnside High School students achieved 92 scholarships, 13 at outstanding level, up from 78 scholarships in 2024. A number of students attained scholarships in multiple subjects and we are particularly proud of the eight year 12 students who received scholarships a year earlier than most.
Bodhi Cath, NZQA Outstanding Scholar
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With outstanding scholarships in English and Geography and scholarships in Chemistry, Physics and Statistics Bodhi Cath will be studying at the University of Canterbury in 2026.
Andrew Wu, NZQA Outstanding Scholar
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Andrew will be attending the University of Auckland in 2026 following his successful examinations. Andrew secured outstanding scholarships in Accounting and Media Studies and a scholarship in Economics.
Sam Allan, NZQA Outstanding Scholar
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Sam was a member of the Youth Parliament in 2025 and also visited Panama as a member of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Debating Team. Sam achieved outstanding scholarships in Art History and History and scholarships in English, Accounting, Geography, Economics
and Classical Studies.
Sam will be attending Gonville and Caius College at The University of Cambridge, England, from 2026 to study politics and history. This was enabled by a scholarship of in excess of NZD$450,000 from the Sir Douglas Myers Trust who will cover Sam’s tuition and living expenses.
Ysabella Ho
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We are home to New Zealand’s Top Scholar of the Year for Statistics, Isabella Ho, who personally received six scholarships and is also a recipient of a Scholarship Award due to her excellent results.
Aadarsh Roy
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Aadarsh Roy achieved an outstanding result in the 2025 Cambridge International AS Music Examinations and holds the honour of being Top in New Zealand.
Alex Gibson
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We are extremely proud of West Division head prefect, Alex Gibson, who has taken out the Cambridge International (IGCSE) Music Top in the World honour.
This is an outstanding result which is very well deserved given his attention to detail, countless hours of practice and passion for music.
Ava Heath Williams
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Ava Heath Williams has been selected to represent New Zealand at the European Girls’ Olympiad in Informatics in Germany to compete against other like-minded students from around the world during the July school holidays. We wish her all the best for her endeavours.
