Botany Downs Secondary College

shitty as school and you have to be clean shaven, tucked in shirt, no scarfs or jackets in class, every bathroom is fucked and taking over a year extra to finish the gym but its obvious they ran out of money to finish it

Too few variations of awards which disencourages students. There should be a separation between visual and performing arts award for example. Cocurriculars are fine, but sometimes lacking a few options. Teachers are either very hard to understand or very nice... most times there is no middle ground. They expect students to memorize everything and have previous knowledge sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I love bdsc but sometimes it can be limiting especially with their teaching, and it can be improvised.

Horrible school. does absolutely nothing about the constant bullying between students, praises teachers who have had affairs with students and throws parties for them before they leave the school. Constantly leave their students drained, also have had teachers tell students to take off cultural items such as necklaces. Anything to do with learning New Zealand’s Offical Language of Te Reo Maori is forced to be online or done by a teacher with no Maori background who does not help the students with learning about their ethnic background. Was told about a student who raised home life concerns and was afraid to go home saying “I think if I go home I’ll die” the school ignored these pleas and sent the student home to that environment regardless. When a student faced with extreme bullying to the point of leaving the college went in to finalise their leaving they were told they would be invited to the schools ball that year if they were to keep everything in regards to the bullying quiet. Do NOT send your child to this god awful school. There are schools out there that WILL make sure your child’s education and wellbeing is made taken care of. Sincerely, a previous student who suffered four years of bullying and hate who’s cries were ignored throughout the entirety because “that’s how high school is” sort your shit out Botany Downs.

My child has been having issues with a family issues and Covid lockdown. The school has been a bit clinical and unsympathetic in their approach to his learning, I brought the concern up to them in March 2022.. still not as much support as I anticipated. I was told in August 2022 that there will be no teacher aides as he is 'not in a tagged class" . Not sure what that means in layman terms. Other parents I speak to have voiced the same concern. Are the schools meant to support us or judge our kids for the situation they have been placed in out of their control?

I am now at the point where I have been told by a child psychologist to apply to other school principals' for help. I have not been referred to or spoken to anyone other than the whanau leaders at the current school. Is the school principal or the deputy principals' aware that there is a serious attendance issue at the school?. Are there systems in place to help children with needs ...?

I was told by the psychologist that the school is meant to help parents.. I am not seeing that yet..

Teaching staff are skilled and ethical. Standard is reasonably high and takes extreme interest in tidiness of uniform, particularly socks. However there is an ongoing vaping and smoking problem. Students selling other students vapes and smoking cannabis during lunchtime. For this reason the school has become less of an interest and appeal to me in the last couple months.