The ‘Workskills’ Pathway concentrates, at school, on Communication Skills, Workplace Mathematics, Practical Science and self-confidence, and on Workskills and Work Experience out of school. Students will gain ‘Unit Standards’ in the courses they do. ‘Workskills’ students would generally expect to go straight to employment from school, often at the end of Year 11. However, if they are successful in gaining their Unit Standards they may well wish to continue to study at school. It is expected that students who remain in the Workskills Pathway until the end of Year 12 will gain an NCEA Level 1 certificate.

In the ‘Vocational’ Pathway students will generally complete a combination of Achievement Standards and Unit Standards in English and Mathematics. Their other three or four courses will be taken from the Option Pool. Students may not expect to pass as many NCEA Achievement Standards in English and Mathematics as those students in the ‘Academic’ Pathway. It is expected that students in the ‘Vocational’ Pathway will be aiming to go on to employment or further Vocational courses. Most will aim to leave school at the end of year 12.

Students who intend to go on to degree level courses should be in the ‘Academic Pathway’. However, students who are aiming for Level 3 and / or UE should also be in this pathway. They will study Achievement Standards in English, Mathematics and Science, as well as at least two other courses. In addition, these courses can be complemented by studying Unit Standards in more practical subjects e.g. Hospitality or Tourism.

Students access to the Pathways will be dependent on their achievement in Year 9 examinations and assessments. For example, a student wishing to access the Academic Pathway would need gain above average grades in their examinations to be considered. Their work ethic (and their career goals) will also be significant factors.

Any queries regarding the ‘Pathways’ should be referred to Mr Haydn Hutching, the Principal or Mr Roy Fletcher, the Deputy Principal