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​Academy Programmes

Academy programmes provide opportunities for students to engage with learning in both the secondary and tertiary learning environments throughout a year-long programme. This builds on existing knowledge, exposes students to the tertiary learning environment and provides credits towards NCEA qualifications as well as a nationally transferable qualification.

Places on Academy programmes are limited and students are required to complete an expression of interest form and meet the tutor before being accepted onto the programme.

Digital Art and Design Academy

Whangarei Campus

The Digital Art and Design Academy course has been developed to introduce students to the creative industries, whilst also preparing for further tertiary study. Digital art and design skills and techniques will be introduced on this course, with a particular focus on teaching drawing skills, concept development, introductory animation, film making, website design and studio photography.

The Digital Art and Design Academy course is structured around students doing 15 hours a week of trades’ related studies between NorthTec and their respective High Schools.

To fulfil this requirement, students will study five hours a week at NorthTec* and 10 hours at high school.

  • 10 hours at High School equates to students studying two NCEA level 3 subject strands that relate to the Digital Art and Design Academy. These strands include any of the following subjects: Visual Art/Design (Design, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture), Design Technology and Art History.
  • Whilst at NorthTec students will work towards NCEA achievement standard:
    • (AS91460) Produce a resolved work that demonstrates purposeful control of skills appropriate to a visual arts cultural context (4 credits)

and

  • One paper from The New Zealand Certificate in Arts and Design (Level 4):
    • (4.6 Digital Media) This course aims to allow students to gain technical and conceptual skills within the specialisation of Digital Media. Students will explore and apply industry practices to a managed brief and describe educational pathways relative to Digital Media. (15 credits)

*Classes at NorthTec will be held every Friday throughout the year, accompanied with some holidays and weekend workshops. An 80% attendance requirement will be essential to ensure students have the best chance of obtaining NCEA achievement standard (AS91460), alongside the 4.6 Digital Media paper from the New Zealand Certificate in Arts and Design

Resulting
NorthTec will deliver and assess the achievement standard (AS91460), schools will moderate and report the results to NZQA.

Upon completion Digital Arts and Design Academy students will receive NCEA credits for the achievement standard (AS91460) and level 4 credits for the papers completed toward the New Zealand Certificate in Arts and Design.

If you have any questions or wish to apply for the Digital Arts and Design Academy please contact Jason Povey: jpovey@northtec.ac.nz

Automotive ACADEMY

Kaikohe and Whangarei

A Level 2 graduate from the Automotive Academy Programme will be able to progress into one of the following automotive roles:

  • Vehicle repair servicing
  • Motor industry apprenticeship
  • Further specialist apprenticeship

Graduates of this qualification will be able to demonstrate both generic and industry specific skills covering a range of work roles available in the motor industry.

Student Profile:

  • Year 12
  • Interested in following the automotive/engineering pathway

Programme:

  • 61 credits
  • February start, early November finish
  • Kaikohe: Wednesday & Thursday
  • Whangarei: Monday & Tuesday

Students will be provided with all appropriate course materials.

Qualifications:

  • Students who competently complete this course may be eligible to gain the Vocational Pathways Award for
    Manufacturing and Technology.
  • An 80% attendance requirement will be essential to ensure students have the best chance of obtaining the qualification.

If you have questions, please contact Simon Phelps: sphelps@northtec.ac.nz

Construction Academy Level 2

Whangarei Future Trades Campus

This programme aims to provide students with general construction and maintenance knowledge. It provides training across a wide range of construction and maintenance areas by giving students practical experience on small building projects. This programme is also an ideal starting point for further study in the construction sector.

Student profile:

  • Year 12
  • Interested in following the construction and infrastructure pathway.

Programme:

  • 45 credits
  • Late February start, early September finish (Term 1 to Term 3)
  • Whangarei (Dyer St.)
    • Thursdays with Block Course for Term 1;
    • Term 3 – Thursdays and Fridays (TBC)
  • Students will be provided with all appropriate course materials.

Qualifications:

  • Students who competently complete this course will gain Level 2 BCATS Qualification
  • An 80% attendance requirement will be essential to ensure students have the best chance of obtaining
    the qualification.

To learn more about trades academy opportunities, see your school’s Careers Advisor or Trades Academy Coordinator. Students must be enrolled in a secondary school to qualify for the programme.

If you have questions, please contact Roger Rhodes – rrhodes@northtec.ac.nz

Construction Academy Level 3

Whangarei Future Trades Campus

This programme provides a pathway from the Level 2 Construction Academy. It aims to provide learners with knowledge, skills and experience of building, construction and allied trades (BCATS) and to assist with the achievement of NCEA or future employment.

Student profile:

  • Year 13 - Ideally students who have successfully completed Level 2 Construction Academy programme
  • Interested in following the construction and infrastructure pathway.

Programme:

  • 40 Level 3 credits
  • Late February start, early September finish (Term 1 to Term 3)
  • Whangarei (Dyer St) - Days TBC
  • Students will be provided with all appropriate course materials.

Qualifications:

  • Students who competently complete this course will gain the equivalency of Level 3 NZ Certificate in Building, Construction and Allied Trades Skills (BCATS) Qualification
  • An 80% attendance requirement will be essential to ensure students have the best chance of obtaining
    the qualification.

To learn more about trades academy opportunities, see your school’s Careers Advisor or Trades Academy Coordinator. Students must be enrolled in a secondary school to qualify for the programme.

If you have questions, please contact Julian Blank: jblank@northtec.ac.nz 

Cookery Academy

Whangarei Campus

Students enrolled in the Cookery Academy programme will be eligible to gain the equivalency of New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 3). This is a programme that requires commitment and dedication from students to attend all classes. The expectation is that these students, after completing this would be eligible to apply to enrol in the New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 4). This programme will give students the basic skills needed to actively participate in commercial kitchen operation.

Student profile:

  • Year 13 (Year 12 at the discretion of the tutor)
  • Successfully completed Schools Cookery 2 or equivalent
  • Interested in following the hospitality pathway with the possibility of becoming a chef

Programme:

  • 62 credits (approx)
  • Early February start, early November finish
  • One day a week (every Monday) and one 4-day block course during the school holidays. 9.00am to 4.00pm
  • Students will receive a chef’s uniform which will be required to be worn at NorthTec
  • Students will be provided with all appropriate course materials (including knife set).

Qualifications:

  • Students who competently complete this course will gain the equivalency of New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 3)
  • An 80% attendance requirement will be essential to ensure students have the best chance of obtaining the qualification.

If you have questions, please contact Tracy Telfer, ttelfer@northtec.ac.nz.

Health Academy

Raumanga Campus, Whangarei

This programme will link students at secondary school with careers in the health industry and pathways through tertiary to those health career opportunities.

Student profile:

  • Year 12
  • Engaged with other Science and English subjects at school to ensure transition to Level 3 UE approved subjects related to a health pathway
  • Interested in pursuing a career in health (nurse, paramedic, doctor, midwife etc.)

Programme:

  • 31 credits (approx.) – where a total of 20 Level 2 Social and Community Services sector related credits would be achieved contributing to NCEA and a Vocational Pathway Award.
  • Practical components of learning will include nursing simulation as well as field trips to industry.
  • Terms 1-3 (early March start, late September finish) -  total of 24 days
  • One day a week (every Tuesday) from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm
  • Minimum 15 students
An 80% attendance requirement will be essential to ensure students have the best chance of obtaining the qualification.​

Electrical Engineering Academy

Whangarei Future Trades Campus

This programme provides the skills required for entry into the electrical industry and related fields.
Graduates of this programme can move onto an apprenticeship as an industrial or residential electrician.
Career opportunities include:

  • Industrial electrician
  • Plant electrician
  • Housing electrician

Student profile:

  • Year 12
  • Interested in following the Electrical/Engineering pathway

Programme:

  • 20 credits
  • Early March start, late September finish
  • One day a week (every Friday)
  • Students will be provided with all appropriate course materials

Qualifications:

  • Students who competently complete this course may be eligible to gain the Vocational Pathways Award for Manufacturing and Technology*
  • An 80% attendance requirement will be essential to ensure students have the best chance of obtaining the qualification.

*To know more about Vocational Pathways Award, please visit www.nzqa.govt.nz

To learn more about trades academy opportunities, see your school’s Careers Advisor or Trades Academy Coordinator. Students must be enrolled in a secondary school to qualify for the programme.

If you have any questions about the programme, please contact Graham Forrest – gforrest@northtec.ac.nz