The head of a private Christchurch boys' school says its learnt from its history of abuse

Christ's College has apologised to about 80 old boys who say they were bullied and abused between the 1970s and 90s.

The school contacted old boys after one told the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care about mistreatment from fellow students in the 1970s -- and responses flooded in.

School board chair, Hugh Lindo, says the college's pastoral care is now light-years ahead of where it was back then.

He says a raft of support measures are in place and help is always on hand at the school.