Welcome to the Ashburton College Pathways Department, located in R2.
We are here to support every student as they discover their strengths, interests, and future options. Our goal is to work alongside students on their own pathway, helping them explore their options and make informed choices for life after school.
Keep up to date with the latest student job vacancies, university open days, work experience and more by visiting the Ashburton College Careers Website.
Career Information and Events: We are the go-to place for all career-related information. We provide up-to-date resources and run events that help students learn about their options after school, including further education, training, and work opportunities.
Connections with Businesses and Industry: We work closely with local businesses and industries to give students real-world experiences that complement what they learn in the classroom.
These include:
Gateway is an exciting programme offering students in Years 12-13 an opportunity to experience workplaces first hand while engaging in structured workplace learning. Gateway aims to make learning relevant to the needs of the student, and to ensure a smooth transition from school to employment or further training. Generally any Gateway training will feed into higher-level qualifications like apprenticeships or diplomas, within the industry. While on Gateway a student will spend a day a week on a work placement as well as be working towards unit standards.
Key Contacts:
Mrs Abbey Bruce
br@ashcoll.school.nz
Gateway students have been placed in a wide variety of industries including hospitality, automotive, farming, tourism, engineering, childcare, hairdressing and building. We have actively looking at expanding this to more sectors.
The Building and Construction course is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the construction industry.
The Building and Construction course is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the construction industry. This exciting programme sees students working together to build two two-bedroom houses.
The course is designed for students interested in pursuing a career in the building and construction sector. It offers more than just practical skills – it builds essential values such as teamwork, responsibility, and perseverance, which are vital for success in the workforce.
Under the guidance of a qualified builder, students spend the year working in small teams on-site, gaining real-world experience in a genuine construction environment. Along the way, they are also introduced to a wide range of building trades, including scaffolding, roofing, plastering, electrical, and joinery, giving them a comprehensive overview of the wider industry.
A key component of the programme is the completion of a BCITO Micro-Credential, providing students with a significant head start toward a future apprenticeship or career in the trades.
This is a fantastic opportunity for students to gain valuable industry skills while contributing to a real-world project that benefits the wider community.
Key Contacts:
Mr Brian Jones
job@ashcoll.school.nz
Mrs Abbey Bruce
br@ashcoll.school.nz
The Primary Industry Academy (PIA) offers practical, real-world education, with approximately 90% of the course dedicated to developing hands-on skills. Ashburton College collaborates closely with local industry experts, contractors, and Primary ITO to deliver essential training in areas such as fencing, operating farm bikes and tractors, water supply management, chainsaws, and animal handling. Students hone these skills in the school’s well-resourced PIA area, and a significant component of the program involves voluntary community work.
The program is structured to provide extensive industry exposure. Year 11 students participate in a variety of field trips that showcase a broad range of career paths. In Year 12, all students undertake a weekly, one-day work placement in their chosen area of interest, which could include dairy farming, sheep farming, or forestry.
Through these varied opportunities, students not only discover their passion within the Primary Industries but also gain valuable credentials. They earn a National Certificate in primary skills, develop key organisational and event management abilities, mentor and host students from other schools, and forge essential industry connections. Ashburton College PIA students are known for their reputation as competent, tireless, and highly motivated workers who are eager to learn.
Key Contact:
Mr James List
lij@ashcoll.school.nz
Dual Enrolment programmes offer an excellent opportunity to gain NCEA credits and experience tertiary education while still attending Ashburton College. As a dual enrolment student, they are enrolled at both secondary school and Ara at the same time. They will spend one to two days per week at Ara throughout the school year, with the remaining time spent at school with their peers.
Mrs Jenny Crouchley
cy@ashcoll.school.nz
STAR Funded Short Introductory Courses are short, practical, and hands-on programmes, typically lasting between 2 and 4 days. They cover a wide variety of career paths, including fields like hospitality, electronics, childcare, tourism, construction, and farming, and are generally offered by private providers.
Mrs Jenny Crouchley
cy@ashcoll.school.nz
At Ashburton College, our goal is for all students to experience some form of work exposure while at school. Work experience, which comes in many formats, involves working with an organisation to explore career options, learn about a job, and gain valuable industry skills.
The Pathways Department works closely with students in subjects such as Trades (TRX), Automotive (AUT), Child Development (CDV), and Hospitality (HSP) to facilitate relevant work experience opportunities. We are open to supporting any student who wishes to explore a career path through work experience.
Please contact the Pathways Department to discuss your options and how we can help you find a placement.
Key Contacts:
Mrs Debbie Van Rooyen
ry@ashcoll.school.nz
Mrs Nadia Scott
scn@ashcoll.school.nz
