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Call us on 0800 222 733What help should schools provide with careers?
Information about what schools are required to do regarding careers education, and who can help and support students.
What schools are required to do
Schools are required to provide appropriate career education from Year 7 (Form 1) upwards. There is also an emphasis on equipping young people who are at risk of leaving school early with the necessary skills for work.
Because of this requirement, students will have access to career education and guidance in their school. The ultimate goal is for young people to leave school with:
- a developed sense of self-awareness
- an awareness of opportunities
- the ability to make decisions and plans
- the ability to take action.
How do schools meet the needs of students?
Each school has a decile rating of 1 (low) to 10 (high). Decile ratings are based on a combination of socio-economic factors, and influence the amount of money that a school receives.
Secondary schools receive a Career Information Grant, which is based on the decile rating and number of students in that school. The lower the decile, the more funding a school receives. The Career Information Grant is not “tagged”, which means that the money may be used for purposes other than career education.
Who is there to help?
Each school usually has a careers adviser, and some schools have a careers department. This may depend on:
- the size of the school
- commitment to integrating careers through the whole curriculum
- skills and commitment of staff.
Student support in secondary schools generally involves the following people:
Careers adviser
In some large schools the careers adviser holds a full-time position, though they often have teaching hours as well. A careers adviser’s duties might include:
- helping students choose subjects
- talking to students about careers
- working with students for specific purposes (eg CV and interview preparation, how to look for jobs)
- ensuring career-related information is easily accessible to students
- speaking to form classes
- being involved with career-related activities in the classroom
- organising career events (eg careers evenings, trips to career expos)
- working with teaching and guidance staff
- compiling student reports for other agencies (eg university hostels).
Guidance counsellor
The guidance counsellor is there to help students. They can help with career decisions as well as other aspects of a student's life that might impact on career decisions.
Both students and parents can talk to the guidance counsellor if they have any concerns about career planning.
- Deans and subject teachers can help your child
Deans
In most schools, each year level will have a dean. A dean’s responsibilities vary from school to school, but generally include:
- helping meet students’ needs
- helping students stay on track
- assisting with subject choices
- some guidance
- disciplining students
- being involved with external exam requirements.
Subject teachers
Subject teachers usually make themselves available to talk to students about where they are at, what subjects to consider for the following year, and how subjects relate to the world of work.
Whānau group leaders
Some schools have whanau groups. The person responsible for each group is a teacher, who is the first point of contact when a student runs into difficulties.
Other support in schools
Other forms of school support for students might include:
- A mentoring programme, where Year 13 prefects act as mentors for Year 9 students. The programme is aimed at assisting students with the transition to secondary school.
- Youth Transition Services (YTS), a government-funded organisation which helps support young people with their transition from school.
What career-related programmes are available at schools?
At the end of August each year, students are must finalise the subjects they will be take in the next year. To help them students decide on subjects, schools generally start to run career programmes from the beginning of Term 3, to allow students plenty of time to explore ideas.
Programmes include:
Gateway
- Gateway is a good way to find out about a job
- Gateway is a school-run work experience programme for Year 11–13 students involving one day a week in an industry work placement. It is funded by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).
- Students undertake assessments for National Qualification Framework credits (which also counts towards NCEA).
- To get into the programme students need to go through interviews with the school (usually the Gateway co-ordinator) as well as the employer.
- There may be other programmes similar to Gateway offered in your child’s school where a student can work in apprenticeship and trade type training while still being enrolled at school. Talk to the careers adviser to find out what other types of programmes your child’s school may offer.
STAR programme
The Secondary Tertiary Alignment Resource (STAR) programme provides Ministry of Education funding to all state-integrated schools that have students in Year 11–13. This funding is used to assist students to attend courses either within the school or by external training providers.
- Careers expos are a good way to find out about a range of careers
Career expos and events
Schools generally advertise these events on their website or through newsletters or emails. Career events include:
- career expos (these are called Coke expos in some regions)
- careers evening/day organised by the school and often involving employers, industry training providers, the defence forces, Careers New Zealand, polytechnics and universities
- teacher/parent evenings, where parents can meet with teachers to discuss their child's progress
- subject choice evenings, where parents and students can talk over subject choices for the next year
- university open days, where students are given the opportunity to visit universities (these may be two or three day events, depending on travel distance)
- visits by tertiary providers.
Courses by correspondence
Schools may offer students the opportunity to study some subjects through The Correspondence School. This usually happens when there is a requirement for a subject that the school is unable to provide a teacher for (eg languages).
Subjects available via correspondence will vary by school.
Academies
Students within an academy programme may do core school subjects (eg maths or English) for a portion of the week, and then focus on academy subjects for the rest of the time. Academy subjects generally include:
- hospitality
- agriculture
- forestry
- trades
- sport.
Students are able to achieve NCEA credits in academy subjects. Academy time is less structured and students benefit from a more hands-on approach to learning.
When are the key times in the school year for career planning?
Subject choice time
This is the most common time for parents and student n to be focused on subjects and future choices. Find out more about making decisions around subject choices:
NCEA results notice arrives
NCEA results may have an impact on career choices. For example, they may have an impact on your eligibility for some tertiary courses.
Moving from school into training, study or work
The transition from school into further training, study or work can be a scary process. Schools are committed to helping students during this process. To make the transition easier, schools may offer:
- programmes such as Gateway and STAR
- help with CV preparation and interview skills
- help with the preparation of university, polytechnic and scholarship applications
- to network with industry, training providers and ITOs on behalf of students
- career counseling and guidance
- to liaise with parents
- to conduct an exit interview
- support and follow-up to students once they have left school
- to refer students to Youth Transition Services.