In 2024, Marlborough Boys College has continued to emphasize vocational pathways.

In 2024, Marlborough Boys College has continued to emphasize vocational pathways. This approach encourages students to explore employment and study opportunities in six major industries: Manufacturing & Technology, Construction, and Infrastructure, Creative, Primary & Services Industries, and Social and Community Services.

For MBC students this has included a good representation across the Top of the South Trades Academy (TOTSA) courses, as well as strong numbers on the Gateway Program. Both programmes involve Year 12 and 13 students, usually completing a day per week of ‘out of school learning’, gaining hands-on work experience in their chosen fields.

This year’s Gateway programme has involved 61 students and over 65 different work placements including those in engineering, building, electrical, plumbing, paint & panel, automotive, diving and youth work. This year also included a first with 2 students being given the chance through Te Whatu Ora to work alongside medical professionals at Wairau Hospital.

Further to this there have been another 21 students completing TOTSA trades courses in Wine Cellar Operations, Automotive, Carpentry, Electrical and Manaaki Tāpoi Cultural Tourism courses. The results achieved through both these programmes have again been excellent. Not only have these young men received practical opportunities, but they have also completed theory papers related to their chosen industry, meaning many have achieved upwards of 20 credits towards their NCEA Level 2 and 3 Qualifications. An example of this being through attending an industry standard two-day Health & Safety course with ‘Safety n Action’ or ‘Industry Training Solutions,’ to help get them more work ready.

As a direct result of participating in these programmes, some students have achieved apprenticeships and offers of full-time employment, while others are going on to study tertiary courses at the likes of ARA and NMIT Polytechnics. Automotive students for example may choose to pursue a Level 3 pre-trade certificate with NMIT or alternatively go straight into the industry where they can begin a Level 4 apprenticeship, under the guidance of their employer and the Industry Training Organisation, such as MITO.

Another key cog in the success of these students is the ‘MBC Driver Education program.’ This includes 110 students in Years 12-13 who are doing a ‘Careers Development’ class. Each class completes a 20-hour driver education unit regardless of whether they have a license or not, with the overall goal of helping the students become more ‘confident and competent’ drivers. Unlike a defensive driving course, our program allows the students to gain valuable credits towards NCEA level 2 & 3. In addition to this 20-hour course, the careers staff have assisted some extra 30 students across the school to gain their Learners Driver’s Licence.

While we wish to celebrate the success of all our learners, there were two major award winners in the vocational studies areas. The first of these went to Year 13 student Jack Frisken, who was recipient of the ‘CATE Marlborough Vocational Excellence Award,’ This nationwide award comes with a prize of $500 and sits alongside the Dux Litterum, as one of our premier academic awards. Jack has excelled in his vocational classes at school, which has included completing more than 30 related credits to his electrical placement. Jack has also been part of the Gateway program and was placed with Aotea Electric. Jacks feedback from the placement was all marked as ‘Excellent,’ with his employer commenting that; “Jack is highly rated amongst the staff and has impressed at the way he gets to work early and shows initiative. He listens well and has shown enthusiasm to learn.” Jack has now started full time work with Aotea and will commence his apprenticeship in January.

Our other significant award is the ‘Gateway Student of The Year.’ This went to Samuel Hole who has been on a Gateway placement at Spring Creek Engineering. Sam’s employer commented that they were particularly impressed with his initiative and reliability, always showing up on time and being prepared to do whatever is asked of him. Sam too has had a fine year academically, achieving 116 credits in total towards NCEA Level 2 and 3.

Other notable winners of vocational based awards included Year 12 student Ronan Manunui who received the (Top Student for Manaaki Tāpoi Level 2). This course is run as part of Trades Academy program by Whenua Iti Outdoors and consists of students completing 4x four-day block courses where they participate in a range of cultural activities that focus on key elements of the Māori culture and how they are interpreted in cultural tourism experiences.

Finally, it is important to acknowledge the outstanding work of the careers staff at Marlborough Boys College as it would not be possible to achieve these great results and create so many practical working opportunities for the students without their dedication. The team of Tracy Quigley, Gareth Pugh, Adrienne Kircher, Nigel Timpson, Darlene Purdie, Aimee Pickles, and Eddie Van der Westhuizen have all made valuable contributions to the pathway development of these young men.

Report Completed by: Jared Bell (Head of Careers and Transition)

(MBC Overall Supreme Vocational Education Winners) (LR) Jack Frisken and Samuel Hole

Year 12 student Ronan Manunui receiving his award at the TOTSA Prizegiving at NMIT’s Budge Street campus for the ‘Manaaki Tāpoi Level 2 Top Student

Samuel Hole – Gateway Student of the Year: