Gateway

THE GATEWAY PROGRAMME

What is Gateway?
Gateway is programme set up and financed by the Tertiary Education Commission and was begun as a pilot programme in schools in 2001. It offers structured workplace learning opportunities to senior students and at Palmerston North Boys High School will be open to Year 12 and 13 students. The Gateway programme is about students completing a work placement and having their learning in the workplace assessed against Unit and/or Achievement Standards on the National Qualifications Framework. The workplace learning is a formalised learning arrangement set in an actual workplace, with clear understanding about the knowledge and skills to be attained and the assessment of unit standards. It differs from work experience, or transition programmes which tend to be designed to give students a taste of different occupations to help them in career planning.

Gateway at Palmerston North Boys' High School
Students who are accepted into the Gateway programme in 2010 will continue to study four conventional school subjects, sitting Achievement Standards towards their National Certificate in Education (NCEA). In addition you will have two timetabled blocks of Gateway per day. In one of these blocks you will be working towards Unit Standards to be assessed at school, such as Health and Safety in the Workplace and Obtain Job Search Skills. In the second block you will be supervised while catching up on any work missed from their other subjects whilst on work placement or unit standards from your course.

On Thursdays students will be at their work placement for the whole day. While they are at work they will be visited by either the Gateway Co-ordinator to monitor their progress. Prior to the student starting their work placement an individual plan will be drawn up with consultation between the student, the employer and the school specifying the expectations in terms of behaviour, attendance and outcomes. Gateway staff will also liaise with Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) to establish an appropriate 'on the job' training programme and assessment for the student.

EXPECTATIONS
Students chosen for the programme need to be committed to it. They will become full members of an organisation's workforce and will be treated much the same as any other employee and follow the school rules as applicable to students outside the classroom. 

They will be expected to:

a)           Dress appropriately for the workplace and be punctual always.
b)           Work hours specified by the employer as required.
c)           Be fully committed to the programme both at school and at work and complete all workplace assessment requirements.
d)           Notify the school and employer in case of illness/absence on a workplace day (before the start of work on that day).
e)           Complete an application for leave from Gateway if there are any events that fall on a Gateway day. This is to be formally approved by the Gateway Co-ordinator, Gateway Administrator or the Principal.
f)            Be polite and enthusiastic while on the placement.
g)           Respect the employer's business and their client's confidentiality at all times.
h)           Accompany the Gateway Administrator to meet their employer if required.
i)            Meet transport which has been organised to enable the placement to take place e.g. bus, etc.
j)            Follow Health and Safety regulations at all times.

Dawson Tamatea
Gateway Coordinator, PNBHS.  Ph 3545176 ext 777 or 0274421142.