SHGC ākonga success

Sacred Heart Girls’ College has had another record number of ākonga enrolled at WITT Te Pūkenga.

“Students recognise that they can pass NCEA Level 2 and Level 3 in five subjects, so they are taking Pathways as their sixth subject and using the opportunity to try a new experience or to get a head-start into their career or tertiary education,” says Sacred Heart Girls’ College Leader of Learning Pathways Warwick Foy.

Three Year 13 ākonga doing the 3+2 programme have successfully kick-started their careers in the hospitality industry thanks to their time at WITT Te Pūkenga.

“Skye is working as a chef at Shining Peak, Chloe at McDonalds and Ella has part time employment at Meat & Liquor Steakhouse that she will juggle alongside gaining a cookery qualification at WITT next year,” says Foy. 

Hair and beauty at WITT Te Pūkenga have also been popular pathways to explore for this year’s students.

“We have three Year 12 ākonga enrolled in hair and beauty qualifications for next year based on their positive experience and success at WITT this year.”

Olivia’s journey at WITT Te Pūkenga started with a STAR course last year when she was in Year 11, followed by taking part in the 3+2 programme this year and next year, she is enrolled to do the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy Level 4.

“Olivia has had a great plan and is getting closer to realising her dream of working as a beauty therapist and is already building her brand via her Instagram makeup posts.”

This year the school had 29 ākonga attending WITT Te Pūkenga Trades Academy and eight attending the 3+2 programme.

“We have enrolled and supported more than 680 secondary ākonga this year and seen the Trades Academy alone grow from a handful of courses in 2016 to the 47 we provided this year,” says WITT Te Pūkenga Director Teaching Partnerships Ben Naughton.

The Taranaki Trades Academy sees students work toward NCEA Level 1 or 2 and attend WITT Te Pūkenga at least one day a week over several terms and gain NCEA credits. Their learning takes place in a practical and hands-on environment using industry-standard equipment and technology relevant to their career interest.

Designed for Year 13 students who have completed NCEA Level 2, the 3+2 programme sees students spend three days a week at school and two days a week at WITT Te Pūkenga working toward a Level 3 qualification. Students do this for terms one to three, and then in Term 4 they are solely at school to focus on school exams.

“We had high numbers of Year 11 STAR students at WITT this year too. These girls were keen on taster courses where they had a go at everything from beauty to baking and electrical to welding.”

STAR courses are targeted at Year 11 students and are usually a few days in total and take place over one to six weeks.

“The idea of these varied pathways to education and employment, like Trades Academy, 3+2 and STAR, used to be unsettling for parents, students and teachers, but now it is mainstream. We have strong relationships with the team at WITT, as well as other providers, and well-understood pathways.”