Secondary Tertiary Pathways

What are these?

Secondary Tertiary Pathways is your link between secondary school and tertiary study, working towards credits which can be applied to both NCEA and industry-specific qualifications. This usually happens with WITT. If you are a Year 11-13 student and are focused, committed and keen to work in a practical environment then WITT could be an option for you! Find out more by getting a booklet from the Pathways Office.


Courses fill up quickly, so if you are interested enrolment interviews will be carried out during Week 1 of Term 4 each year. Students wanting to join the WITT courses in the new school year may not be able to do this as these courses may be full.


Students must ensure their attendance is at 90% or above to complete a STP course, anything below may result in being removed from the course.

Who do I talk to about these?

Until our new Pathways Coordinator, Glenny Lewis, starts, Hillary Knowles is the person to talk to; hkn@waitarahs.school.nz 

What options are there?

STAR Courses

STAR courses are short taster style classes at WITT that help students to explore career options and make informed decisions about their future schooling, work or study. Courses take place over 1-9 weeks and are only a few days in total during Terms 2 and 3.


The courses are aimed at Year 11, 12 and 13 students who would like a taste of potential career options and offer a small number of NCEA Level 1 credits.


Course options include, beauty therapy, cookery, hairdressing, hospitality, plumbing, automotive, electrical, carpentry, sport & fitness as well as many more.


Students must ensure their attendance is at 90% or above to complete a STAR course.


Dependent on demand, STAR course placements may be limited and priority will be given to students wishing to complete courses that we do not offer as a school.

Trades Academy

Trades Academy students attend WITT at least one day a week over several terms and gain NCEA credits. This is available to students who are studying towards NCEA 1 or 2. Students should have a genuine interest in a particular pathway. The learning takes place in a practical and hands-on environment using industry standard equipment and technology relevant to your chosen career path. Develop the foundation skills needed to progress to further study opportunities or move directly into employment. Find out more by getting a booklet from the Pathways Office.


Courses fill up quickly, so if you are interested enrolment interviews will be carried out during Week 1 of Term 4 each year. Students wanting to join the WITT courses in the new school year may not be able to do this as these courses may be full.


Students must ensure their attendance is at 90% or above to complete a Trades Academy course, anything below may result in being removed from the course.

3+2 programmes 

These enable Level 3 students to complete an industry-specific Level 3 qualification by attending school three days a week and a tertiary provider two days a week, during Terms 1, 2, and 3. Programmes on offer include: 


Students participating in a 3+2 programme must already have gained NCEA Level 2.  Credits gained in these programmes are also applied to NCEA Level 3 results. The balance of credits required to achieve NCEA 3 must be earned during the three days at school. Find out more by getting a booklet from the Pathways Office.


Courses fill up quickly, so if you are interested enrolment interviews will be carried out during Week 1 of Term 4 each year. Students wanting to join the WITT courses in the new school year may not be able to do this as these courses may be full.


Students must ensure their attendance is at 90% or above to complete a 3+2 programme, anything below may result in being removed from the programme.


CHECK OUT ALL THE WITT STP OPTIONS AT THIS LINK

Construction Trades Academy 

This academy is based at Waitara High School and works with AGC training to build a  

3-bedroom relocatable house. This is an exciting real-life opportunity for students to be involved in and operate two days a week; the other three days are spent in other options at school.


This is a very popular option and space on this course fills up very quickly. Priority will be given to students who have identified construction as a pathway, as well as having turned 16 years on 1st March.


Students must ensure their attendance is at 90% or above to complete a Construction Trades Academy course, anything below may result in being removed from the course.

TOPEC - Pest Eradication & Bush Survival Vocational Training 

Usually run one day a week either Term 2 or 3, students contribute to the conservation and environmental sustainability of Taranaki land by  preparing for, placing, setting and checking traps. Students will monitor our pest animal operation and become aware of environmental best practice through the concepts of kaitiakitanga and whanaungatanga. With bush survival skills, students will become self-sufficient in the outdoors, learning to read maps, build shelters and fires, cook on a campfire,  cross rivers safely, and understand navigation techniques. There is one night camping in the bush. There is a possibility of gaining 16 credits at Level 3.