Elim Christian College

I think it's safe to say this school is not amazing. First of all, there are an extremely little about of option subjects. Second of all, teachers are bias to "mentally ill" children, and never listen to the other student's complaints. Third of all, there are 3 assemblies a week. This may not seem that bad, but trust me, it isn't fun to sit there cramped with your class listening to teachers scold us for littering.
I think it's completely unfair how MANY of the teachers only listen to one side of the story. To the teachers, whoever is crying is the more vulnerable person in the situation, and they need "special attention." Just because someone isn't visibly hurting, doesn't mean you aren't hurting inside. And it makes the situation a whole lot worse when the teacher takes the other student's side and not yours, after not listening to your side of the story.
Also, this so called "semi private" school is slowly turning into a public school. Students draw on the walls, blast loud music at lunch, get into full on fights, and so much more. And the worst part? The teachers scold EVERYONE for something only A FEW people are doing. It wastes time and makes students feel guilty for something they didn't even do. We could be doing something so much more
productive.
Next, recently our school had a fundraiser and raised about 42,000$ to buy us shade for our playground and stuff. Literally more than a term after this fundraiser took place, we're still sitting here, with NO shade. And what's worse, the shade is currently being built in the ONE place student's aren't allowed to go. How on earth does that work?
Elim claims that they're a "christian" school, but there is no use saying that when a lot of the students run around swearing, joking about demons, and calling themselves atheists. Teaching us about Jesus does NOT mean that students are going to take in the information.
Lastly, the education this school is providing us with is not relevant to what we'll need in the future. They are so worried about teaching us about "Aroha" and "kaitiakitanga," they forget to teach us about useful things we'll actually need when we're older. Like taxes, applying for jobs, etc.
If you're looking to send your child to a school, based on my personal experience, for you and your child's sake, do not choose elim.

It's pretty mid tbh, classrooms are big and all but 90% of the school is glass, if there is a school shooter- they see through all the classrooms.

3 assemblies is a form of bullying as it is a repetitive activity that causes discomfort.

im christian and this is a christian school its in the name get it right

Personally what are the other reviews on about. "homophobic transphobic" Nahh that's crazy maybe that's because it's a Christian school with Christian values....... "overly religious" there's no such thing as overly religious unless you aren't religious- there's 1 worship assembly a week and that is too much for you- are the Christian kids singing Christian songs promoting Christian values too much for you? Is the teacher playing Christian background music during class too religious for you? Maybe don't go to a Christian school then.. I would send my kids to Elim Y0-8.

Do not go here!!!! You or your kids future will be destroyed! Hungry money making cult!

I actually really like Elim. From what I hear, all the kids who've moved schools say Elim's bullying is pretty much 0 compared to what they used to see and experience. Although the school is small, that means that most people know most people, and it's nice knowing who is who. Student culture is pretty inclusive naturally, and most students respect the Christian aspect of school even if they aren't Christian themselves. Assemblies 3 times a week is mid but that's alright. Most of the teachers nowadays are chill and down to Earth. School is gated off (Golflands) completely so there's little chance of escape during the day, especially with security cameras. Bathrooms are really clean compared to what I've seen at other schools. Overall, primary years are amazing, middle school is alright, high school is questionable but still not that bad compared to public school.

This is a great school with good education, you can do whatever you want basically. Girls vape in the bathroom and we all are on our phones and the teachers don't notice. It's a chill place but there are a few a holes. But apart from that it's a cool school. They have lunches every day that taste great, the staff can be very biased sometimes. They offer alot of sports, alot of drama but apart from that all up a good school.

I feel the school takes the school fees and don't discipline kids, they leave it all up to the parents albeit the child is at school during day not at home...they send a student home fir not following school rules, the child is already failing terribly as there is no appointed truancy officer..it was a very bad decision to move my daughter from Howick College to Elim Botany campus. I am a devoted Christian but feel more broken after this experience...just really disappointed 😞

(100% honest review done by a student who's been there for several years)

FYI started there in year 7 (2016), left in year 10 (2019) so have 4 years of experience, I have a couple friends at this school

Honestly the way the school promotes themselves deceive you, it's displayed as a diversely accepting school with the goal of educating students not just in basic school subjects but getting closer to Jesus.

Unfortunately I didn't get the experience that I would've liked. Teachers were incredibly self centered, disrespectful and obviously weren't passionate about their jobs, more so only focused on about taking your phone 😒😒. First off, some of them spent most of the time speaking irrelevant information during class time, taking away precious project time that they were adamant in not giving back. Had a couple experiences of racism and total disregard to anything I had to say (basically shut off any ideas). They have a student voice system which is practically useless as the teachers only care about what they want, there is a total disconnect between students and teachers with an immediate shutdown from staff and faculty. Then they have the audacity to tell us when we talk in class "do you want us to treat you like adults or what??".

Now students, I have made maybe a couple friends at this school who I'm still in contact with today. However most of the people here are obviously very sheltered and immature. If you don't agree with people there, you're often shunned and treated like an outcast. Majority of the racism and homophobia comes from the students, the very ones that scold you for saying anything remotely considered to be a "swear word".

The school system and management was pretty poor to say the least. No structure in both curriculum and co-curriculars for the little few subjects available. Sporting events often had 1 practice session before an actual tournament, there the school is only shamed for having the most incompetent teams. Some subjects, the curriculum was changed multiple during year making the yearly planner absolutely useless. Personally I had a math's class where I received 5 different teachers that year. Goes to show the lack of qualification at this school.

The school financial situation wasn't any better. Funds were only going to the church with little to nothing going to the school. For a school that has 13,000 students currently there charging $3,000 a year for a student, you'd think they'd have more funds to work with. Sure they need to pay the staff and faculty but still nothing is given to the students. Funds mostly go to the juniors at the golflands campus, giving them new science and technology classrooms and equipment where my year group got practically nothing.

To sum things up, I would not recommend putting your child in this school. Personally it drove me away from Christianity (later returned to church on my own accords) which was sad to see as this school had so much potential, only for it to be thrown down the drain. I really tried to enjoy my time here and sometimes the only fun i'd have is with my mates but other than that, i'd come home wishing I wouldn't have to go into class the next day. I do believe that maybe one day this school will learn from its mistakes and put in more effort to make it what they propose this school to be. As of the time I left (2019) nothing has changed according to my mates and if anything has only gotten worse but that's for them to say.

Giving this school a 1 star review is already generous enough, if there was an option for 0 then i'd definitely put that👎

If you go tot he teachers about something the gaslight you and make you feel bad so you shut up.

I think this school gets a lot of bad unjustified negative reviews. I've been to three other schools in my life and have experienced bullying in previous schools, but here at Elim, the community there is great and the people and very welcoming. I think parents should send their children to Elim to learn how to have good character. All my friends are amazing, kind thoughtful and there for me even when my social battery runs out, they comfort me. The community is great if you want your children to be away from extreme bullying and be surrounded by helpful cheerful students. I am not going to neglect some poor things at the school as this is an honest review. I love the school dearly and have been here for a while, but my only issue is the lack of wider subject ranges, and if they are offered they are offered through Te Kura. But I do not have a prejudice towards the school for this, I understand and know it is a small school, so you should have the background knowledge that not all subject options are available, unlike other schools. However, the subjects that are offered here at Elim are the key important subjects, and the teachers are not as 'bad' that other reviews may say. The teachers are actually really amazing and work with individual students that track behind to help them reach their academic goals. Most of the students I know do very well and follow along in classes well, the learning is effective and the teachers are encouraging. I have so many treasured memories in this school and would recommend parents to send their students to Elim, whether it be junior, middle or high school, it is a safe, hard-working and encouraging environment for children to grow up and learn in.

The teachers care WAY to much about their reputation, they only deal with bullying if it will effect their reputation (e.g one of the kids parents are friends with them or their parents are on the school board). Only 2 teachers are nice but the rest suck; their homophobic, transphobic, sexist, anti-vax etc. the school has so much money but they can't even provide enough tables for the students. The school cares too much about sports whist not providing them with good equipment all our equipment are old and broken. The library is the only good part the librarian is super nice and supports lgbtq and is overall amazing. The school talks so much about what they'll do in the future but never focuses on what happening right now. They lie to you, they say that it's a loving space where we can feel safe but they yell at you for asking questions and they try and gaslight you into thinking you are in the wrong. So many parents send their kids to this school because they think that they're become good Christian children but most people I've meet here are very skeptical of Christianity and to the few I've talked too they said that before they came to Elim they were 100% sure that god existed but after they came they became skeptical. They push false Christianity onto you, even though I'm not Christian all my Christian friends agree that this school sets a very bad example of Christianity they want us to be Christ-like but they are far from being Christ-like. Overall a very bad school is you want to send your kids to a school where they can get good Christian education try another school.

MAC campus is a great school. The teachers do care about the students and do their best to meet the individual needs of the students. Some of the teachers go above and beyond for their kids. There's a great community vibe and culture. They don't let you get away with anything but that's not really a bad thing. Academics are great.

don't like this school because the teachers are homophobic, especially to my lgbtq+ friends

This school is terrible, the teachers are racists, and they only care about the school's reputation rather than the mental health of the students. Don't bring your kids here.

My child had a terrible experience at this school. I am so glad that they've moved schools, they hated every moment at this school. There were homophobic, racist staff at this school who judged my child. My child would come home crying sometimes and they would fake sick just so they wouldn't have to go. I think this is completely UNACCEPTABLE and something NO CHILD should EVER go through no matter their colour or sexuality. I am absolutely DISGUSTED by this school. I will NOT be recommending this school to ANYONE. For anyone considering this school all I can say is do NOT go here PLEASE. The only good thing about this school is the students and being able to get in teams (which there aren't many of). TERRIBLE TEACHERS THOUGH (some)

I’m a year 12 student and the truth is that although there are some great students and a few great teachers there, they don’t really care about you. The teachers are more worried about your uniform or phones but most of all they care about their reputation. They look after their own staff and reputation more than anything. If you were to complain about a teacher not teaching you anything they would try and make it seem like it were your fault, they would defend the teacher and refuse the truth. If there were to be any bullying they wouldn’t do a thing, but if something bad were to be said about a teacher they would take immediate action and contact your parents or something like that, or send you to the principals office to have a 'talk' with them. Then while you were there they would pressure you into answering things or admitting you were wrong even if you weren’t. Not all the teachers are terrible but the management of the school is. They don’t push you academically to do better and if you’re a bit more advanced they would almost ignore your needs and wait for the rest of the class to catch up with you, just like I am in science. They also don’t offer many sports, they offer maybe basketball, football, netball, table tennis and a few more. They’re also extremely homophobic and they tell us how wrong it is, but then also tell us that this is how God made us and that we should be proud of who we are and express ourselves. They also are a bit racist towards brown/black/Asians, almost every staff is white. The only reason I’m here is because of the amazing students and friends I have, I’m happy that I’ve only got about a year left at this school.

To conclude :

•The staff only care about the schools reputation and themselves

•There isn’t many opportunities, public schools offer a lot more for free.

•If you value academics this isn’t the school for you.

•Slightly racist

•Homophobic

I’d say that the school is pretty cool. Yes, it isn’t the most resourceful nor the biggest school, but it has a good reputation. The school will not force students into religion, and most students and teachers will understand that not all students are Christian. They will encourage you to go to church and stuff since you do attend a Christian school, and they expect Christians to go. Sporting wise is ok, there are many talented students who are top in say Auckland, but they leave after intermediate to go to a better college. You can get into any sports team that you want, since they often have a lack of players. Mainly the boys teams have big trials as the boys will win most of their sports. The school has great team spirit and is extremely encouraging. Ive been to Elim most of my life, and they have taught me good lessons. Some teachers are bad, but most are good, like every school.

Botany Campus is way better than Mt Albert Campus by a mile, but both still fall into the category of "poor". Less subject options, overly religious, homophobic, transphobic, and the teachers really want to push the anti-LGBTQ propaganda on you. In Mt Albert Campus, the rainbow students are wary of their teachers and I never felt safe there. Some teachers were decent, they teach fine. The teachers that are unbearable though? They're the ones who believe that only boys do the heavy lifting. Lowkey sexist.