Award-winning effort
Central Hawke's Bay College has been presented with a national award at Parliament in Wellington.
The CHB high school received the 2018 Got A Trade, Got It Made School of the Year award from Education Minister Chris Hipkins at a ceremony in Parliament last Monday.
Thirty-six schools across the country were nominated by Industry Training Organisations before they were assessed on a wide range of criteria including ERO reports, NCEA results and curriculum opportunities.
The annual award recognises a school which has done an outstanding job of engaging students in trades and services careers.
Josh Williams, chief executive of the Industry Training Federation which represents all of NZ's recognised ITOs, said CHB College was selected as the winning school because of its high number of vocational pathways, Gateway placements and high rates of student participation in trades academies.
“Central Hawkes Bay College has excellent programmes which expose its students to possibilities in skilled trades and human services. Its range of vocational pathways and Gateway placements give its senior secondary students the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of workplace training and learning opportunities with local businesses,” Williams said.
Students were gaining handson experience in a range of trades and services, including retail, travel, infrastructure, construction, social work, bike mechanical, customer service, beauty and even agricultural aviation, he added.
College principal Lance Christiansen, who attended the ceremony, gave credit to his staff, particularly the school's Gateway coordinator, Kim Walker, for the award.
“A key component of this award was to recognise the outstanding work undertaken by staff, in particular Mrs Walker in our Gateway programme and all our teachers who work with mentoring students,” he said.
Teacher mentors worked with all students to understand their individual needs and future aspirations, he said.
“The Board of Trustees' goal for the school is to provide success for all our students and our academic, sporting and cultural opportunities allow them to be successful and leave school and contribute positively to our community.”
The award night started the national Got A Trade! Week which encourages school leavers to consider a trade or apprenticeship to “earn and learn”.
The day after receiving the award, CHB College hosted a Careers Day expo attended by ITOs and several local business from the horticulture, transport, meat processing and beauty therapy sectors among others.
■ For photos from the career day see page 8.