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High school launches construction trades academy
November 16th, 2015
by David Armstrong
Motueka High School last week launched a trades academy to train and prepare students for a career in the construction industry.
The academy is the second major job-training initiative by Motueka High School following several succesful years of operating its NZ-leading Primary Industry Trades Academy.
The Construction Trades Academy is the culmination of three years of effort and planning to put together a practical programme of teaching and work experience toward a full trade qualification. The academy will open next year with six students enrolled.
Local Builders who will support the schools programme are Coastline Estate, Roger Kenning Builders, Kahurangi Homes, TR Builders, Total Design and Build Ltd, Jason Frater Builders and Talley's Builders from The Talley's Group Ltd.
Motueka Teacher Peter Allan, HOD Technology and the driving force behind the school's academy system, will tutor the students and place them with builders for site experience in Motueka.
During planning ITM Motueka has acted as a conduit between the school and building companies, helping bring it all together, says local ITM managing director Phillip Woolf.
"We've managed to build a local model for trades training that can be done here in Motueka, rather than students having to go to NMIT in Nelson," he says, adding that they expect to be an on-going conduit in the process.
The primary industry academy programme, one of eight Primary Industry Trades Academies in the country, has been quietly running over the past two years, and is now considered the "flagship" of the initiative throughout New Zealand. The previous school principal Scott Haines told Motueka Online the Ministry of Education is looking at it as a model for how such academies should be built and run.
The academy system offers huge advantages for the students, employers, the school and the town. It gets more young people into meaningful local industries, keeping them in the region. It provides a mechanism for having new employees work-ready and already trained in the theory of the trade.
It gives students a broader view of what they could do so they can start a career before starting work. And they can get employment close to home, find a suitable boss and work team, while still achieving NCEA and National Certificates.
For the school, it makes more motivated students who love what they're doing, and links their education with real jobs. They also learn important skills like turning up to work on time and bringing the right equipment with them.
The launch evening last week for the Construction Trades Academy was planned and presented by Patrick Smith HR, attended by local MPs and the Tasman District Mayor, and supported by local Iwi from Te Awhina Marae.
The new academy will eventually add courses in building, plumbing, electrical, painting, joinery and other similar trades.
Principal John Prestidge is shown in the photo presenting ITM apparel and safety equipment to students who are enrolled in the academy for 2016. (Photo courtesy of ITM Motueka.)
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