Papanui High School
30 Langdons Road, Papanui · Canterbury
Composite score
Developing
Below median
Rank #1,780 of scored NZ schools
In summary
Papanui High School's 2023 ERO review identified that boys achieve and engage less well than girls, and that a target group of Year 9 and 10 students is at significant risk of not achieving NCEA. The school demonstrates effective use of learning and engagement data to inform curriculum programmes, systematic distributed leadership of strategic priorities, and educationally powerful engagement with the school community. Composite score: 82.
Best suited for
Students aged 13-18 in Papanui looking for a state-funded setting.
Is Papanui High School a good school?
Papanui High School scores 55/100 on the SchoolsNearMe composite — a weighted average of 5 axes (academic, outcomes, retention, wellbeing, trajectory). Below median nationally. The full breakdown is below; every input links to its source.
Strengths from the latest ERO report
- Effective gathering, analysis and use of learning and engagement information that informs meaningful curriculum programmes for learner pathways
- Systematic distributed leadership of strategic priorities for improvement and innovation, including curriculum design, wellbeing and pastoral care, and cultural responsiveness
- Educationally powerful engagements with the full school community that informs strategic decision making
Summary derived from ERO reports + audited financials + MoE records. Every claim links to its source — see data transparency at the bottom of this page.
Score breakdown
6 axes, each scored 0–100 on a national absolute scale. As at 2025.
L1 77% · L2 66% · UE 43% · bottom quartile of band (n=84) · why? ▼ hide
Uni 20% · Te Pūkenga 12% · Industry 7% · near band median (n=81) · why? ▼ hide
75% to Y13 · near band median (n=86) · why? ▼ hide
standdowns 33.7/1k · suspensions 8.8/1k · exclusions 4.7/1k · bottom quartile of band (n=404) · why? ▼ hide
-4.5% roll over 5yr (2020→2025) · below band median (n=403) · why? ▼ hide
82/100 from ERO review 2023-05 · above band median (n=406) · why? ▼ hide
⚠ Insufficient EQI-band peers (n<10) to compute per-axis percentile context. The score above is absolute; treat it as a single-school read rather than a peer comparison.
Real ERO composite (from the latest review): 82/100.
Latest ERO review
2023-05-05 · Shelley Booysen, ERO
- School has identified that overall, boys achieve and engage less well than girls
- A target group of Year 9 and 10 students is at significant risk of not achieving NCEA
- School demonstrates effective gathering, analysis and use of learning and engagement information to inform curriculum programmes
- Systematic distributed leadership supports strategic priorities for improvement across curriculum design, wellbeing, and cultural responsiveness
"the school has identified that overall, its boys achieve and engage less well that its girls"
Composite score across reviews
4 ERO reviews on file, 2009–2023. Click a point to read that review.
Trajectory across review cycles
Year-over-year change per dimension based on consecutive ERO reviews.
Both reports document sustained improvement in Māori student achievement at Papanui High School. The 2009 report highlighted dramatic gains (31% to 66% achieving Level 1 NCEA between 2005-2008), while the 2014 report confirms this trajectory continued with "a trend of improvement in Māori achievement over time" and notes expanded support through "a growing whānau class" alongside "notable successes in cultural competitions."
2009-05 → 2014-10 diff source
Both reports emphasize wellbeing as a strength, but with a shift in focus. The 2014 report highlighted wellbeing through strong pastoral care and a caring ethos of inclusion. By 2023, while systematic distributed leadership now supports wellbeing as a strategic priority, the school has identified specific wellbeing concerns: boys achieving and engaging less well than girls, and a target group of Year 9-10 students at significant risk.
2014-10 → 2023-05 diff source
Both reports affirm strong curriculum effectiveness, but with a shift in focus. The 2014 report emphasizes the curriculum's 'considerable flexibility and responsiveness to individual learners through wide subject options and pathways.' By 2023, the emphasis has moved toward systematic use of 'learning and engagement information to inform meaningful curriculum programmes for learner pathways,' reflecting a more data-driven approach. The 2023 report also identifies emerging concerns with boys' engagement and a target group of Year 9-10 students at risk of not achieving NCEA.
2014-10 → 2023-05 diff source
Both reports describe strong and improving student achievement, with the 2009 report emphasizing that students "exceed national expectations" by Year 11 despite entering with lower levels, while the 2014 report highlights "continuing" improvement with "significant improvement in NCEA Level 1 results in 2013." The achievement trajectory remains positive across both periods, though the 2014 report provides more recent concrete evidence of NCEA improvements.
2009-05 → 2014-10 diff source
Both reports affirm high-quality teaching, but the 2014 report shifts emphasis from individual teaching practices and professional development to curriculum effectiveness and responsiveness. The 2009 report highlights "Teaching practices range from good to high quality with strong professional development driving continuous improvement," while 2014 emphasizes "The curriculum is very effective, offering considerable flexibility and responsiveness to individual learners."
2009-05 → 2014-10 diff source
Audited financials
Year ended 2025 · Audit opinion: n/a
Total revenue
$22.30M
Surplus / (deficit)
+$109k
Net assets / equity
$5.46M
NCEA achievement
School leavers with NCEA at each level. National average is ~85% (Level 1).
NCEA Level 1 · 2024
76.9%
227 of 295 leavers
-4.7pt vs prior year
NCEA Level 2 · 2024
65.8%
194 of 295 leavers
-4.5pt vs prior year
University Entrance · 2024
42.7%
126 of 295 leavers
+0.3pt vs prior year
Data: Ministry of Education / Education Counts, CC-BY-4.0
Stay-on rate
Percentage of students who stay at school until at least their 17th birthday — the standard NZ proxy for Year-9-to-Year-13 retention.
74.9%
2024 cohort · 295 students
-4.6pt vs 2023
Discipline (age-standardised, per 1,000 students)
Stand-down = sent home temporarily. Suspension = formal investigation. Exclusion = removed from school. National averages shown for comparison.
Stand-downs · 2024
33.7
78 this year · NZ avg ~37
Suspensions · 2024
8.8
25 this year · NZ avg ~5
Exclusions · 2024
4.7
11 this year · NZ avg ~1.5
Vocational Pathway Awards
School leavers achieving Vocational Pathway Awards by industry sector (2024).
- Service Industries 19
- Creative Industries 12
- Construction and Infrastructure 7
- Social and Community Services 5
- Manufacturing and Technology 2
Government funding
Crown funding only (school operations + teacher salaries + property). Excludes locally-raised funds, international fees and trading income — those are in the audited financial report above.
Total Crown funding · 2022
$19.34M
Per-student funding · 2022
$13,163
2018
$10.8M
2019
$11.6M
2020
$13.5M
2021
$15.6M
2022
$19.3M
Roll by year level
July 2025 roll return.
- Year 09 278
- Year 10 287
- Year 11 315
- Year 12 316
- Year 13+ 318
Roll by ethnicity
Share of total roll. Students who identify with multiple ethnicities are counted once.
- European/Pākehā 67.8%
- Asian 24.5%
- Māori 15.9%
- Pacific 4.3%
- Other / MELAA 4.3%
- International 3.7%
International students
SIEBA member · Day school only
Location
30 Langdons Road, Papanui. Nearby schools marked in grey.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap, © CARTO
Schools nearby
Within 15km, sorted by distance. Add any to compare with Papanui High School.
St Joseph's School (Papanui)
Full Primary · 0.7km · 435 roll
73
+18 vs this
Marian College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · 0.8km · 411 roll
77
+22 vs this
Christchurch Adventist School
Composite · 1km · 267 roll
68
+13 vs this
Bishopdale School Te Kura o Papakōhatu
Contributing · 1km · 174 roll
48
-7 vs this
Casebrook Intermediate
Intermediate · 1.1km · 467 roll
66
+11 vs this
Papanui Primary School
Contributing · 1.1km · 227 roll
46
-9 vs this
Frequently asked
Is Papanui High School a good school?
Papanui High School scores 55/100 on the SchoolsNearMe composite — a weighted average of 5 axes (academic, outcomes, retention, wellbeing, trajectory). Below median nationally. The full breakdown is below; every input links to its source.
What does the latest ERO review say?
ERO's 2023-05 review identified 4 key findings. School has identified that overall, boys achieve and engage less well than girls
How do I enrol my child at Papanui High School?
Contact the school directly on 03-3526119, email admin@papanui.school.nz, or visit www.papanui.school.nz. For state schools, check your home address against the school's enrolment zone — some schools are in-zone-only.
What are the fees?
Papanui High School is a state school. There is no tuition fee for domestic students; voluntary donations may be requested.
What is the roll size?
Papanui High School has 1,469 students, with an EQI of 461 (mid-range socio-economic context).
When was the school last reviewed by ERO?
The Education Review Office last reviewed Papanui High School in 2023-05, signed by Shelley Booysen. 5 ERO reports are on file in our archive.
Data transparency
Every fact on this page links to its source. We never publish a claim without provenance — read our methodology for the full rules.
Sourced from
- ero.govt.nz
- papanui2023.ibcdn.nz
- sieba.nz
- schoolsdata.co.nz
- papanui.school.nz
- crimestats.co.nz