The principal of the school attended by six students who escaped from an overturned school bus this morning has praised the bravery of the kids for insisting they still attend classes.

The boys, aged six to twelve, were on board when the bus flipped on its side as it tried to take a bend on South Makara Road, near Wellington, just before 9.

One of the young passengers had a cut lip and was treated by ambulance staff at the scene.

One of the students had the presence of mind to ask the shaken driver to smash the rear window out with a fire extinguisher so they could get out.

Makara Model School principal Gail Dewar said after being checked by ambulance staff, the kids insisted they carry on with their normal school day and some did not want to miss a scuba diving trip.