Ngaruawahia High School Yearbooks 2010-2012 Ngaruawahia High School Yearbook 2011 | Page 52

Waikato Trades Academy

Rudi Thompson-Smith, Hamish Mitchell, Shawn Beckham-Mansell and Maddisen Bond
An exciting government initiative saw Wintec partner
with Waikato secondary schools to encourage students to
stay at school for longer by engaging them in hands-on
learning.
The Waikato Trades Academy enabled year 11-13
students who were interested in a career in trades or
technology to combine practical tertiary-based study with
studies towards their National Certificate of Educational
Achievement (NCEA).
During the first year of the Waikato Trades Academy,
students built a motorbike using scooter parts. This projectdriven teaching by Wintec tutors gave the students
automotive, electrical and engineering skills and the
relevant NCEA unit standards, whilst also improving literacy
and numeracy levels.

The Waikato Trades Academy is one of nine
throughout New Zealand and the only academy in the
Waikato region. Forty eight year 11 students from 12
Waikato secondary schools began their first two-week block
course on March 28.
The three year programme will see students join the
trade academy three times a year, for two weeks each
time. The students will be given free safety equipment,
including overalls and work boots, as well as full access to all
of Wintec’s support services.
The Waikato Trades Academy offers the National
Certificate Level 2 in:
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Electrical Engineering
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Mechanical Engineering
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Motor Industry

Deputy Principal Chris Jarnet and Rosemarie Cann - Careers Advisor on their first day at the Wintec Trades Acacemy on the
28th March 2011. Maddisen Bond, Hamish Mitchell, Rudi Thompson Smith and Shawn Beckham-Mansell