Kelston Boys' High School

Kia ora, this is the student that wrote the review back in July 31, 2023. I am writing this review because my experience in KBHS has changed since then.

The school gets a bad reputation due to the stereotypes that it's all about rugby and sports, and that nothing academic ever happens. HOWEVER, this is a distorted view and it couldn't be farther from the truth.The school is actively trying to support students and help them achieve with the best of their abilities. Moreover, we host events such as the world scholar's cup, and participate in debate, legal mooting, chess, math and other competitions alike. With my time in Kelston, I have only ever seen academic activity and engagement increase, not decrease, with each passing year.

Bangerz Education and Wellbeing Trust has said in their website that KBHS students have allegedly said "the teachers don't care about us", this is such a bald-faced lie.

The teachers absolutely DO care. We have teachers that go out of their way to check on students' mental health. We have teachers that sacrifice their time to be at school after-hours for homework club. We have teachers actively giving quality feedback on their students' work. Granted, I have my problems with this school, but absolutely NONE of those problems ever involved the teachers.

The teachers in this school treat you like family; they treat you with love and care and they have a genuine desire to help you succeed. If Bangerz Education and Wellbeing Trust (what a cringeworthy name) were not deceptive and spreading misinformation about the school, then it would be reasonable to hear their plan out.

Some people complain about the lack of academic activity or achievement in KBHS, but they don't stop to think that some of this stuff is genuinely outside of the school's control. We operate on limited resources; a lot of our students and whanau have low socio-economic status; and because this is a high school, we more than likely have a lot of our young people struggling with a myriad of personal issues that impact academic performance. This is a multi-faceted issue, and certainly not one that can be fixed by turning the school into a charter school, especially not when the sponsor is hellbent on running a smear campaign against KBHS.

People of Kelston, be vigilant. Charter schooling is a trojan horse seeking to privatise education. Something as sacred as education should not be maimed like this. Most importantly, there is no evidence that suggests charter schools can bring about innovation or improve academic achievements. In reality, public schools, including Kelston Boys' High School, are well equipped to innovate and improve student outcomes. No need to throw the baby out with the bathwater and create imaginary problems with the imaginary solution of turning KBHS into a charter school.

Granted, every school has its issues. From my past review you would think I have a massive bone to pick with this school, and actually, I do. But I also acknowledge the great potential this school has. I acknowledge the positive impact the school has made on me, and I appreciate the dedication of my teachers. I am being serious when I say I genuinely do love and appreciate this school, and whatever issues it is facing won't be solved by turning it into a horrible charter school. Unlike BEWT, I don't exaggerate or lie through my teeth and I have lived experience being a student at the school.

Hint: I was in the KBHS Fijian polyfest group this year.

Kind regards,
Unnamed Pupil

this school is actually all goods. unlike a certain someone, just ignore them and stop being a little poopy head. there's one problem tho, there's brothas here that act like girls, and I don't know how to feel about that. they also tend to dress up like them, like isn't that gay? oh yo, and the food is straight up a**, f*ck you David Seymour. Security? no security, I just rely on the services academy.

But the bathrooms are like hella weird. someone didn't flush the toilet, and the frickin water had risen up to the f*ckin toilet bowl, and I couldn't take sh*t. Like, someone slipped on the floor because of the frickin piss on the ground.

but yo, this schools just that good ay...

Before I start dunking on this pathetic shell of a school let's start with a few good things about it
+ Some really good teachers

And that's about it. That's the only good thing. Now let's go for the bad stuff
- The boys here are just horrendous, everytime you walk into a classroom you will hear racial slurs at least 30 times. They are also super racist towards south east asian people, I've had people calling me "curry muncher" and "F***ing Indian".
- If you are queer, stay the hell away from this school. The boys will chew your soul, turn it into a mush and spit it out
- Because of the boys here you can't even concentrate in class properly. And then when you go home you will be too tired from all the crap you have to deal with from this school, and you won't be able to do your classwork.
- This school markets itself as this super good school for your boys cause it promotes brotherhood and blah blah blah. But to be honest this is a breeding ground for sexism, homophobia, racism and all the other stuff that you would want your kid to stay away from. There is no brotherhood, if brotherhood means to collectively disrespect teachers, collectively vape in toilets, collectively harass kids who are different than them. Then no thanks, I don't need this brotherhood.
- Students are super disrespectful to teachers.
- Some of the students started vaping in the library to the point where we had to close it off forever during lunch breaks/intervals
- The toilets are a complete disaster, broken toilets and vapers are super common.
- The library, which is a place meant to be for people to read books and enjoy peace and quiet, is infested with boys who vape, run around, watch tik toks and pollute the noise free environment and turn it into a fish market.
- This school pretends to be culturally inclusive but I have not once heard a Maori karakia done before eating lunches. This school is rather semi-catholic and still stuck to the old ways of how the colonisers set it up.
- Strong focus on uniform and the school's image rather than fixing the internal problems and the quality of education.

Just please don't come to this school. Single sex schools are bad in general, especially if it's an all boys school. Look elsewhere, turn your dreams into realities. Don't come to this dumpster fire, go child go. Chase your dreams.

And say this with me, Kelston Boys High School sucks.