Trade academy opens at Lakes High | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Rotorua secondary school students will have more opportunity to do vocational work as the number of trades academies increases to help fill the district's skills shortages.

Last week the New Zealand Primary Industries Trade Academy opened a branch at Rotorua Lakes High School - a joint venture between Fitec (Forest Industry Training and Education Council) and the agriculture and horticulture training organisations.

The idea behind the trade academy is for students to take part in vocational work while earning credits towards their NCEA Level 1, 2 and 3.

Students will do the unit standard theory work at school and gain the practical component of units doing work experience on a farm, in a forest, sawmill, orchard or nursery.

Rotorua Lakes High School is one of eight schools in the country and one of two in the North Island, that have joined the new venture.

Students Peter Gordon, 16, and Naran Patrick, 17, are among 10 students who will be a part of the school's first trade academy.

Peter said he was looking forward to his new class and doing hands-on work.

Student Richard Cousins, 17, said it would be cool being in a class where he could learn life skills while earning NCEA credits.

Lakes High principal Bruce Walker said the new academy was a great opportunity for the school.

Year 12 dean and NZTA co-ordinator Martin Godfrey said the three-year programme would give students the opportunity to mix school learning with industry work. "It's a wonderful opportunity for students."

Year 11 students would start with one day a week at the academy and work their way up to three days a week by the time they were in Year 13, he said.

"The system is designed to keep up with NCEA," Mr Godfrey said.

Waiariki Institute of Technology School of Forestry and Primary Industries director Jeremy Christmas said locally there was a shortage of skilled forestry workers and general trades skills were always in demand.

Trade academies would help fill that gap in the future, providing a bridge between secondary schools and tertiary education and another option for students who might otherwise consider leaving school early, he said.

Ian Boyd, the chief executive of Fitec, said vocational education was critical as 70 per cent of school leavers depended on non-university training options. Students who participated in vocational work during school could go straight into their chosen industries and into good jobs.

It was hoped the number of schools involved and student places would increase next year.

Last month, a trade academy was opened in Whakatane under a separate initiative, the second of eight initiatives expected to open throughout the country this year.