First Trades Academy for NZ Schools

Friday 1 May 2009

NEWS RELEASE

The first Trades Academy planned for New Zealand schools intends to open next year at Southern Cross Campus in the Manukau City suburb of Mangere. This scheme will bridge local students into trade training and service industries and address the need for qualified tradespeople and skilled professionals in key areas.

In a bold move, the school will guarantee a Modern Apprenticeship to students who successfully complete the two-year programme in an area they have work-trialed.

The government plans at least five such academies before 2011 that will provide specialised education for students who want to opt for practical hands-on learning experiences and careers in applied technology. Education Minister Anne Tolley says this initiative aims to build on existing successful programmes while offering greater flexibility to students.

“School remains the best place for young people to get their education,” she says, “but we all realise that traditional study may not necessarily be relevant for all students. Putting trades back in schools is about getting more young people interested in school, and achieving more while they are there.”

The Trades Academy will combine targeted work readiness learning in the classroom with work experience outside school using the existing Gateway work experience programme. Students will have their studies, career planning and work exploration individually tracked on the school’s student management system. They will also receive the assistance they need to successfully obtain and complete an apprenticeship.

The academy will provide pathways into trade training for year 12, 13 and 14 students from the Campus. A two-year programme, Stage 1 will include mainly year 12 students who are learning at NCEA Levels 1 and 2, while Stage 2 will cater for year 13-14 students who are learning at NCEA Levels 2 and 3. Students will study practical workplace skills such as use of laser equipment, digital measurement, health and safety, and first aid along with subjects like contract law, logistics, design, project management and business communication.

The Campus won the right to run the new initiative by promoting the needs of the community to the government and proposing the programme. Not only did it have to show a proven track record in delivering and administering vocational training but also that it is committed to partnerships between local businesses, supporting schools and other training institutions. It also had to demonstrate that demand exists within the school for this type of training and that the academy would meet local skill shortages. Other schools proposing trades academies will also need to meet similar criteria.

Campus Director Robin Staples says the school has done the groundwork in identifying opportunities for students in local industries. Proximity to a growing industrial area provides potential employment in fabrication and engineering trades, while a busy logistics industry is associated with the nearby international airport. Opportunities also exist in medical technology at Middlemore Hospital, and for potential teachers in early childhood centres and local schools. Further training is planned in tourism and business, creative design and armed services.

“In accepting our proposal,” says Mr Staples, “the Ministry of Education has acknowledged that we are ideally placed, both geographically and organisationally, to provide the kind of specialised trades education that is vital for this community. And with many trades becoming increasingly complex there are opportunities for students at all levels of ability.”

Senior School Director Warren Waetford agrees, and believes the academy will benefit both students and the community. “This is an excellent opportunity to promote self-worth amongst our young people,” he says, “and in turn I anticipate they will provide a much needed boost to the skilled labour force in the future.”

The school is not looking to replace the trade training offered by Auckland polytechnics but hopes that the academy will be complementary and enhance the positive relationships that already exist with polytechs.

“We plan to use local polytechs for detailed trade training,” says Mr Staples. “Our role is really to get kids started at polytech and apprenticeships and to get them into a role that is right for them.”

The school plans to start the Academy next year with an extension of the existing and highly successful hospitality programme. Students who study this subject at the campus already travel to top hotels in China and Hong Kong to receive world-class international experience. They also place highly at local and national culinary competitions including several students who took top awards at the recent Junior Hospitality Challenge held at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT).

Southern Cross Campus is earmarked for substantial funding to construct specialised facilities for the new academy. It is also planning to utilise existing community infrastructure, such as commercial kitchen space located in an adjacent building at a Community Centre.

ENDS

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