Tapawera School has been offering its senior students the opportunity to experience workplace learning via the Gateway programme for the past ten years.
Gateway is designed to help transition students into the work force by giving them an opportunity to explore job options while studying towards their National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA).
“I chat with the students to see what they are actually interested in and then I work to find something that will suit them,” explains Gemma Walsh from Tapawera School.
This year the school has found workplace placements for five students who will spend time at either a local sheep farm, Riding for the Disabled, a goat farm, Air New Zealand and the SPCA.
“Our goal is to find the students placement in term one, have them out working during terms two and three and finish up before the big work load of exams begins,” Gemma says.
Students can earn NCEA credits alongside the practical work placement, by completing units of work through providers such as Telford and Southern Institute of Technology.
There is an agreement developed between the school, the student and the workplace.
“Even though the students are not paid we still call it their workplace and their employer. We want our students to behave and view them as the employer,” Gemma says.
Bayley Bint, a student, has received placement at Riding for the Disabled.
“I help with grooming and warming the horses up. Although I have my own horses, I have never been involved in something like this,” she says.
“Getting up early is not very fun. I need to get up at 6.30am to get there on time. I really enjoy helping the kids learn new things and I’m looking forward to gaining more experience.”
Transport to and from Tapawera to the Riding for the Disabled is organised by the school.
Katey Gillespie has always wanted to be a sheep and beef farmer so she was excited when her placement was found on a local farm.
“There are no early starts in sheep and beef farming, you’re kind of on your own timetable and most of the time the animals are good to work with,” she says.
Katey has been busy learning new skills on the farm such as fencing, moving stock, drenching, crutching and ear tagging.
“I think it’s great that young people like me can experience the industry and know what it’s really like.”
Gemma says that the students involved in the programme get regular time at their workplace placements and some have the opportunity to go regularly over the school holidays as well.
“We find times that suit the employee as well as look at what will work for the student, how it can fit in with their regular school workload. We have been fortunate to find great placements for all our students this year and I look forward to working alongside them on their journeys over the up-and-coming terms.”
