DISTANCE LEARNING AND VOCATIONAL
Overview
Our students can choose from a range of personalised learning programmes either as one of their six subjects, as an additional learning opportunity on top of their six subjects, or as an individualised pathway of choice using a separate school timetable.
Learning delivered online
Learning delivered online gives selected students an opportunity to pursue their studies in a way that better suits their learning needs or provides access to subjects not available at school. Students can enrol in a Correspondence School (Te Kura) course or courses delivered via NetNZ. Through these courses, students can achieve credit towards NCEA levels 1, 2 and 3.
Vocational pathways
Our vocational education and training courses give students access to a range of pathways offering practical skills and training to prepare them for specific areas of employment or tertiary study. These courses include:
Distance learning
Students can access Secondary Tertiary Alignment Resource (STAR)-funded courses through the Southern Institute of Technology or Telford. These courses can contribute credit towards NCEA Levels 2 and 3.
Otago Secondary Tertiary College (OSTC)
Students can attend off-site at Otago Secondary Tertiary College (OSTC) in Cromwell to study courses in automotive, construction, beauty, hairdressing, hospitality, cookery, police pathways and turf management. These courses can contribute credit towards NCEA Levels 2 and 3.
Work-based learning programmes
Central Otago Youth Employment Programme (COYEP)
For students over the age of 15 (Year 11) who would like to experience the world of work while continuing their studies at school, COYEP allows them to spend time at school and at work sites in their areas of interest while achieving credits towards NCEA Level 1 or 2. These students can then choose to transition out of school into work or further vocational training (eg a pre-trade course) for a particular job.
Gateway Programme
The Gateway programme gives Year 12 and 13 students access to structured workplace learning combined with school-based learning. Students’ learning is assessed in the workplace and they can achieve credits towards a nationally recognised qualification in their area of interest.
Pathways Programme
This practical, skills-based learning programme is customised to meet the needs of students in Years 12 and 13 to support their goal of transitioning out of school to further study or work.
Aviation
Our Year 12 and 13 students can gain a Private Pilot Licence as part of their studies. Thanks to partnerships with Wānaka Helicopters and LearnToFlyNZ, students can obtain their licence in either fixed wing (aeroplane) or rotary wing (helicopter) while they study for their national academic qualifications. You can read more about our Aviation programme in our course guide.
Snow College
Thanks to our school’s enviable location in the alpine region of New Zealand’s South Island, our students are offered a snow career pathway programme in partnership with the Cardrona x Treble Cone Snow College. Students can undertake this programme as an area of interest on top of their existing subjects and can achieve credits towards NCEA Level 2 and 3. While the training is delivered in a snow environment, the skills and knowledge acquired in this course are relevant to a range of careers on and off the snow including early childhood education, hospitality, service industries, and trades such as mechanics and electrical.
Extension opportunities
There are a number of tertiary courses available for senior students through tertiary providers, such as Unistart at Waikato University and the University of Canterbury. These courses (delivered online) include, for example, first-year Engineering Maths, Art History, Economics, Languages and Linguistics, Philosophy, Politics, Social Work, Speech Science.
View our course guide
View our course guide to learn more about our distance learning and vocational subjects.
