School, students and community seize Gateway opportunity

Kaitaia College is a rural school—two hours from the nearest tertiary education institution.

Creative options

“That’s why we have to think creatively about the options for our senior school students,” says Ailsa Tini, Kaitaia College’s Gateway co-ordinator.

The school seized on Gateway—with between 75 and 100 students or about a quarter of the senior secondary school involved each year.

“Making that first decision about what to do when you leave school is one of the most significant anyone can make.”

“I want to make sure that first choice is made with the best information possible,” says Ailsa.

Investing time

When Kaitaia College first started the Gateway programme, time was invested with staff talking them through what it would mean for students, staff and the school.

“After all, the kids would be taken out of class to go to work.”

It didn’t take much to win the staff over.

“We all thought what a fantastic opportunity it was for our students. People were lining up with possible candidates to take part.”

A flexible response

Kaitaia College has altered the school timetable to accommodate Gateway and to ensure there is as little disruption as possible to the students’ class time.

The school also tries to match the time away from school with a related classroom subject.

“For example if a student is scheduled to do their automotive class on a Wednesday afternoon, we try to arrange their Gateway placement at a local mechanic for the same time.”

Community support overwhelming

The support from the local community has been overwhelming.

“The community wants to see the kids get ahead. Gateway is one way they can give a helping hand in the right direction.”

And the support from out of town is just as impressive.

“We have to go out of town to Whangarei and Auckland to give our students the full range of experiences.”

“It’s amazing what a phone and the Yellow Pages can deliver in opportunities for kids! Auckland workplaces are wonderful.”

Ailsa has no doubt that school has become a lot more relevant for the students that experience Gateway.

Students clear on pre-requisites for jobs

“The students get very clear about what the prerequisites to get into some jobs are. They look at the courses they are doing and work out they need to come back the next year to get say English, maths or physics.”

Ailsa says the impact Gateway has on many kids is overwhelming.

“It gives them a focus and a purpose. It also gives them hope and knowledge.”

“The students see the opportunity they are getting and they run with it.”