However, a former staff member described the school as "a viper’s nest" and told the Otago Daily Times they even avoided driving past the prestigious all-girls school because of the anxiety it provoked.
They were one of several Columba ex-employees, parents and students who contacted the ODT after a current staff member last week exposed the alleged deep rifts which they say have destabilised the school for at least a decade.
Current principal Charissa Nicol — who became the fourth head in 10 years when she took on the role in 2023 — has been on leave since July, a situation that has been shrouded in secrecy.
The circumstances were made murkier when Ms Nicol emailed staff a week before term 4 started announcing her return, only for that to be denied a couple of days later by Columba’s general manager, who insisted her absence would continue.
Board of trustees chairman Graeme Riley said he could not speculate as to why the flip-flopping occurred and stressed the board had an obligation to "maintain confidentially and to act in fairness to all parties".
He said there was no division among staff as some had described.
"It is not uncommon for staff to have different views on certain matters, but there is no instability at the school," Mr Riley said.
"We would like to point out that the feelings of a handful of people driving a negative narrative does not reflect the majority and we utterly refute some of these claims."
In an email to parents this week, the school confirmed it had been working with specialist governance adviser Cleave Hay to develop a "strategic plan" and engagement workshops with parents were planned.
The Ministry of Education also confirmed it was involved.
An ex-staff member at the college, whose tenure preceded Ms Nicol, said the issues aired by last week’s whistleblower were also apparent when they worked there.
"I’d worked in [several] schools before I moved up to Columba. And I hadn’t ever experienced anything [there] that I experienced at Columba in terms of the politics," they said.
They said there were great teachers at the school, but there was a core they described as "rotten".
The ex-staff member recalled starting at Columba and quickly being pushed to declare their position as to whether they were for or against the principal, a scenario they had never experienced before.
"It was a viper’s nest.
"I am so bloody traumatised by what that place did to me that the thought of going into a school again scares the s... out of me."
Several parents had a similarly tarnished view of the school and one told the ODT the divisions among staff were clear.
Teachers had been overheard "publicly bitching" about their colleagues, but one mother said it was more the standard of teaching which had prompted her to withdraw her daughter.
The talented student allegedly met resistance when she sought extension work and as a result became "absolutely bored in class", the mother said.
"Her brain was shutting down because she wasn’t being challenged."
Her daughter was now excelling at her new school, she said.
Mr Riley said he "absolutely refuted" claims of substandard teaching.
"The academic achievement of our students speaks for itself, and includes a number of outstanding scholarship awards and high rankings in NCEA," he said.
Another mother, who has long-standing expertise within education, said she had pulled one child out of Columba and had this week made the decision to withdraw her remaining children.
She said she had become increasingly concerned by the quality of teaching, which was impacted by the high turnover of staff in core subjects.
"There were consistent complaints about the standard and level of education that they were delivering, not just from me," she said.
"My daughter wasn’t progressing, and that’s what the other parents were worried about."
She recalled an initial excitement at the appointment of Ms Nicol, someone they hoped would be "vibrant and forward thinking".
But the mother communicated directly with the new principal, voicing her concern about the staff in positions of power.
"I didn’t think they were appropriate or suitable," she said.
Mr Riley said the turnover of teachers at Columba was "actually quite low" and staff left for a variety of reasons.
In an email to parents, the school said recent media coverage was not reflective of Columba College and urged anyone with concerns to address them with the leadership team.
Acting principal Aaron Everett and general manager Marianne Parks said all allegations raised in the ODT would be reviewed and discussed with the board if necessary.
"We see this time as an opportunity for the strengthening of the Columba College community," the email said.
