'Bossy' Bachelorette gets top marks

The Bachelor NZ contestant Kristie Leonard. Photo / Sourced

School teacher Kristie Leonard failed in her bid to win the heart of Arthur Green on The Bachelor NZ, with the show's hunky star saying she was too "bossy" for him.

But the 25-year-old - who was sent packing from the Bachelor mansion two weeks ago - is still getting top marks from her Year 8 students at Christchurch's Kirkwood Intermediate School.

"When I was on the show, every day started with a lengthy discussion in class about what was going on in The Bachelor," Leonard told the Herald on Sunday.

"The boys seem to know a lot more about the Bachelorettes than the girls do. They are so into it."

Leonard kept her TV appearances secret until the first episode was screened in mid-March.

"The kids were then watching every episode and they were pretty tired in the mornings after every show was aired," she said.

Leonard insisted she enjoyed being on the reality TV dating show despite being left rose-less by Green. She had received overwhelming support from staff, students and their parents since her exit.

"The kids sent me loads of emails and in public it is still not over for me as I still get recognised. People haven't forgotten who I am, so it is all good."

Just three Bachelorettes are left from a starting lineup of 21 girls as the show enters its final week.

Invercargill high school teacher Alysha Brown will battle for Green's affections with sales executive Matilda Rice and marketing assistant Dani Robinson, both from Auckland.

Green will chose his leading lady at a sunset ceremony in Wednesday night's series finale.

The Bachelor NZ is still holding ground in the ratings despite new competition from the latest Australian series of My Kitchen Rules on TV2.

Tuesday's episode of The Bachelor NZ pulled in 326,000 viewers overall while 318,000 watched MKR the same night.

On Wednesday, The Bachelor NZ drew an audience of 361,300 while MKR jumped to 382,700.

TV3 reality talent quest the X Factor NZ this week slipped outside the Top 30 in the TV rankings, with 283,000 viewers on Sunday and 294,100 the next night.