Dual enrolment gives West Coast ākonga more scope to succeed

Rangatahi explored local history as part of their Foundation Skills course.

As Year 12 dean at Greymouth High School, Ann Kieran is relentless in her quest to drive student engagement. In early 2021, then Year 11 dean, she was on a mission – she wanted to reignite enthusiasm and ambition in ākonga who had been disadvantaged by the pandemic and were dealing with nerves around NCEA.

Greymouth High School has strong relationships with other education providers on the West Coast and are always on alert for new opportunities for their students.

“That’s something we’ve worked very hard at,” says principal Samantha Mortimer.

“For example, one of our deputy principals continues to build relationships with other agencies to try to create wrap around care for our most vulnerable students.”

A fresh start

The school learned that Tai Poutini Polytechnic was planning to offer a new foundation course and that students could earn 60 Level 2 credits in 15 weeks.

Ann Kieran with 2021 graduates Bryalyn and Kaylee.

“We thought it might work for some of our ākonga. It’s a slightly different adult world away from the classrooms and it could be a fresh start,” says Ann.

“There would be students of all ages on the programme so it would give them a completely different world view in terms of education and who they are as people.”

On the flipside, some of the high schoolers were only 15 so plans for pastoral care were vital.

“We didn’t want to send them off into an unknown project without ensuring we kept that pastoral connection with the families,” says Ann.

Combining secondary and tertiary learning

Another challenge was finding a way to provide literacy and numeracy so students could gain their mandatory credits for English and maths.

“It was a blessing that the polytechnic didn’t offer literacy and numeracy teaching because it meant we could retain that school connection, not only on a teaching level but a pastoral level as well,” says Ann. “The teachers could go to the polytechnic on Fridays, and feed back to me how the students were doing within themselves.”

Ann Kieran with 2021 graduate Lily

The next step was to figure out which students would be well-suited to the course. A group was assembled for a visit to Tai Poutini and Ann says it quickly became apparent that the course had captured the students’ interest.

“I remember them being so focused and loving the atmosphere. I was left standing at the back like a third wheel,” she laughs.

Rethinking NCEA delivery

Annabell Dey is the manager of teaching and learning at Tai Poutini and oversaw the pilot scheme.

“On the West Coast, the number of young people leaving school with NCEA Level 2 is a little below the national average and we thought we’d get a group together to try something different,” she says.

Annabell goes on to explain how they invited students from the high school and had a chat to find out what they thought of it all.

“They were great young people, but the school system wasn’t working for them. We just chatted. I asked what would make them get a qualification, what they were interested in doing and I pointed out what qualifications they’d need to achieve that.

“We wanted to see if they’d buy into it because they had to commit for the programme to work.”

And commit they did. In July 2021, nine students from Years 11 and 12 started the 15-week Foundation Skills course and all clocked up more than 90 percent attendance.

Four days a week they worked on foundation skills, and on the fifth they worked on English and maths with teachers from school.

Units covered included workplace health and safety, personal presentation, budgeting, renting, and taster sessions in hospitality and carving.

Outside of class time, they were free to return to Greymouth High for sports and clubs, thereby maintaining their connections at school.

Students celebrate their stunning success along with whānau, Greymouth High School staff, and tutors from Tai Poutini Polytechnic.

Embracing the real world

Students say they particularly enjoyed off-campus activities such as a visit to the Op Shop to buy clothes for a job interview, and the time they baked to raise money for charity.

“It’s so much more chill and I get help as soon as I need it,” says one, while another says, “We are learning about the real world. I have learnt about the responsibilities I’ll have when I go flatting.”

The results of this trial are remarkable. All students attained both NCEA Levels 1 and 2. Since graduating in December, they have moved on to either full-time work, apprenticeships, or transition-to-work programmes.

Samantha says one of the most noteworthy benefits has been the students’ improved confidence.

Ann recalls a special moment when she attended the polytechnic to hear two students give an achievement standard [level] speech.

“Seeing them stand in front of a class and speak for three minutes, glowing with confidence, was a ‘wow’ moment. Before then you could barely get them to speak to anyone they hadn’t known for 10 years.

“Their success has given them the confidence to realise they can achieve whatever or wherever their passions lead them.”

Greymouth High School leaders say the mahi of kaiako Cath Donovan, Lauren Evans and Su Coutts was invaluable.

“Without their capabilities to build relationships, organisational skills and learning facilitation the students would not have been able to gain their numeracy and literacy requisites,” says Samantha.

Tai Poutini Polytechnic CEO Alex Cabrera says the initiative is an example of how the transformation of education in New Zealand is creating opportunities for collaboration and reducing barriers to education.

“I am encouraged by the work that has been done to pursue better education opportunities for our ākonga,” says Alex.

Nikalai’s story

Nikalai (second from right) at work with his boss, Eddie Gray (left), fellow apprentice Nicholas, and Gateway student Jordan (right).

In early 2021, Nikalai was 15 and, he concedes, “not always getting to class”.

In July, he took the opportunity for dual enrolment at Tai Poutini and Greymouth High – and he’s gone from strength to strength since.

At the end of the year, Nikalai graduated with NCEA Level 2 and started an apprenticeship at Gray Brothers Engineering. He’d been working there evenings but says he was very surprised to be offered the apprenticeship.

“I was happy as – and a little bit scared. It’s harder than I thought it would be and at first, I was very tired, but now I’m used to working long days and it’s really good.

“I’m amazed by how far I’ve come,” he reflects.

“Last year I was lacking credits but at tech it was easy to learn. It was fun, I wasn’t getting distracted and in a small group it was easier for the tutor to go around to help people.

“We had workbooks to work through and we’d go on trips to try different things like barista work and carving jade. It was very cool.

“I want to get my apprenticeship done by the time I’m 19 or 20, then I’ll see what else I can do.”