Career
Pathways

Decision making
support

Every student at Whangamata Area School is given comprehensive career decision making support through the Careers programme.

The aim of the Careers programme is to encourage and help students look beyond school and establish a clear focus and direction for their future lives.

The programme uses an integrated approach combining mentoring of student academic progress and career planning.

Career Programmes

Career Central

A vital part of the Careers programme, it is for all students to manage their career decision making and offers 24/7 online access on any device by parents, students, teachers and careers advisors.

STAR

[Secondary Tertiary Alignment Resource]

Star funding is for schools to assist and provide students in Years 11 to 13 with relevant, coherent learning experiences aligned to Vocational Pathways.

Gateway and Vocational Pathways

The Gateway Programme provides opportunities for students to experience a workplace situation while still at school and is open to all Year 12 and 13 students. Gateway offers structured workplace learning for a sustained period of time.

It helps build skills for employment through working in real places on real tasks and offers a clear view of the options available as well as links to modern apprenticeships and workplaces. These practical learning opportunities lead to nationally recognised qualifications, a work record and possible references for students’ CVs. During the year students will complete work-related Unit Standards contributing to industry based NZQA qualifications and to their NCEA Record of Achievement.

In order to meet the requirements of this course students must gain a minimum of 20 credits. Gateway can offer opportunities in many of the Vocational Pathways Sectors.

Waikato trades academy (WTA)

The Waikato Trades Academy (WTA) is funded by the New Zealand Government to provide secondary students with the opportunity to study at both school and Wintec. WTA gives students a head start by gaining specific and practical experiences and skills, and the opportunity to move directly into a job, apprenticeship, or further study on completion of secondary school. Students can enrol in one of the programmes that WTA provides and will travel to the campus either in Hamilton or Kopu one day a week.

Bulls-Eye

Students can access this programme from Career Central. By working through Bulls-Eye our young people become future-fit. Students take the career quiz and have their strengths and interests assessed against over 40 career paths, giving them a much better idea of the options available and the qualifications needed to be successful.