High school building good education with private sector

An innovative construction course at an Auckland high school, made possible by the private sector, has seen a big turn around in some difficult students, job offers to graduates and increased support for the second year of the course.

Onehunga High School started its Building and Construction School last year in partnership with Fletcher Construction. It is the second such privately supported course at the school, following on from its highly regarded Business School.

Twenty-two Year 12 boys did the course last year and 18 graduated. Most saw high school as increasingly irrelevant or were only there for rugby. A beneficial side effect of the course has been a change in attitude for many of them.

Principal Chris Saunders said leadership qualities, a strong work ethic and a noticeable improvement in self-worth were "some of the exciting outcomes" from the course.

"Some who had been very challenging to the school underwent a remarkable change for the better."

All 18 could have been placed in apprenticeships as a result of the links the school had formed with the building industry, and the high regard the industry had for the quality of their work. Many took that opportunity, while some elected to spend another year at school and others opted for different career paths.

Fletcher Construction was so impressed with the school's results last year that it has promised an additional seven students apprenticeships this year.

Peter Mayow, operations manager of Fletcher Construction, believes firmly in the project's two-way benefits.

"We saw this initiative as a much-needed step towards introducing students to construction as a career," he said.

"The programme offers real trade skills and hopefully convinces the students that construction can be a rewarding and satisfying job choice. There is a skills shortage and any programme like this can only help to ease those shortages over the long term."

To get the school off the ground last year, Fletcher Construction was approached for support and committed seed finance of $200,000, plus expertise and advice. It also assisted with resource consents, uniforms and tools. Other building industry firms, such as Hitachi, have contributed tools.

Local organisations associated with building and construction volunteered alongside Fletchers to offer specialist knowledge.

Last year, the school's students studied Building and Construction as their core NCEA component and took other classes in English, Mathematics and Business Studies, which are mandatory and tailored to suit each student's experiences and qualifications. Other courses can also be taken.

Building and Construction makes up between one-third and one-half of the total course time, with a one-hour block on Mondays and four other blocks between two and five hours on each of the other weekdays.

In 2005, two single-roomed units were built for on-sale. This year it is intended students will build a simple two or three bedroom house that will be sold to fund the following year's development.

This year, the school will run two classes with a total of 45 students. It aims to complete a purpose-built facility by the end of term so students can work in proper industry conditions on larger projects and student numbers can increase further.

The building school's mission statement is to provide quality, relevant pre-apprenticeship building, construction and business education and training to selected students at the high school.

Mr Saunders said the high school - of which the roll is more than half Maori and Pacific students - would continue to emphasise the values of trades courses.

"Our past over-emphasis on the more academic outcomes of the school will have to change. Sitting alongside that traditional emphasis will be a conscious attempt to promote the worth of the trades, reflected in the ceremonies and celebrations of the school."

Private sector partnerships key to success

Onehunga High School's ground-breaking private sector partnerships - in its Business School and one-year-old Building and Construction school, that have brought students much success, have built a template for further similar initiatives.

Mr Saunders said the partnership aspect between school and the private sector could not be overstated.

"I believe schools cannot undertake these projects without additional resources and outside expertise.

"Nothing in my experience has matched this partnership model for relevance, speed, effect and economy."

Mr Saunders said other parts of the school curriculum were perfect for similar initiatives and "we look forward to developments in those areas".

"The two most significant curriculum developments achieved at Onehunga High School have involved significant partnerships with the private sector."