Hagley has again offered students an opportunity to complete unfinished University Entrance qualifications over summer, allowing them to move on to tertiary study.  

Over 150 students enrolled in January for our Catch Up College. After the release of NCEA exam results on January 17th, the phones rang hot and our eventual enrolments this year were the largest we have had in 11 years of the programme. While the majority of our Catch Up students came from high schools in Christchurch, there were many from around Canterbury and some from Dunedin, Nelson, Wellington and as far afield as Auckland. Similarly, while most of our students have now begun their tertiary studies at the University of Canterbury, students have gone from this year’s Catch Up to Otago University, Ara Institute of Canterbury, Lincoln and Victoria Universities, the Defence Forces, and other courses.

We were proud to be able to offer face to face teaching of standards in 20 subjects, with new additions this year including standards in Home Economics, and Digital and Generic Technologies.

Feedback from one of our January students reflects the service that Catch Up provides as a stepping stone to tertiary studies: 

“As of today I have successfully completed my first week at the University of Canterbury. I can say that the Catch Up programme at Hagley College was extremely helpful with recovering the credits I needed and I was so relieved when I got to know of the programme through a UC liaison ... Overall I had a great experience at Hagley College and I'm really thankful for the programme.”

So on behalf of the College and the students and families who have benefitted from Catch Up this year, a sincere thank you to the teaching and support staff who again made themselves so available.