Educating for the Future
At Calvin there is a strong focus on careers development and pathway planning. Having laid a strong foundation of excellence in the Junior School, we begin a careers focus with our Year 8s. In this year group we start with working on student’s awareness of their strengths and weaknesses. We explore their hobbies and interests, and establish a job preference by completing a career’s interest test. Discussions follow about jobs versus careers, and the educational requirements as we prepare them for Year 9 elective subject selections.
We work with our Year 9’s on developing a better understanding of self and continuing what has been started in Year 8, but in more detail and in a more formal way. Students complete a short research assignment on a job of interest, exploring the requirements with respect to education, personal skills and attributes, and the work conditions.
Calvin Year 10 students complete a work studies unit of 50 hours with more detailed job research, resume writing, letter of application, mock interview and one week of work experience. Individual pathway planning counselling is completed before subject selection for Years 11 and 12. As part of their preparation for work students complete 10 hours of community service.
Years 11 and 12 focuses on preparing students for the next step. Career counselling is based on individual needs. The school facilitates the participation in industry representative and educational institution workshops for interested students. In Year 11 students complete 10 hours of school service.
Calvin Year 12 students participate in a mentoring programmes, and are matched with a Christian adult in the trade/profession of their career choice. The focus of the mentoring is on career guidance in an informal setting. Students and mentors meet over coffee and discuss not only what it means to work in the trade/profession of their choice, but also to consider how a Christian might approach that work in a way that honours God.
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
Calvin’s involvement in VET Training for over a decade is a testimony to the school’s commitment to provide young people with a breadth of educational opportunity that both recognises and celebrates individual differences. Over time Calvin has been actively involved in promoting nationally recognised industry standard certified training for its students, at times within the school and other times by working with others schools and training providers to provide extended opportunities.
One of the distinctive features of Calvin’s approach to Vocational Education and Training is the belief that all students benefit from the opportunity to develop work ready skills. Rather than seeing course selection at Years 11 and 12 as a choice between a VET pathway and an academic pathway Calvin encourages all students, wherever possible, to actively pursue both. Doing this increases students’ understanding, broadens their horizons and expands their career options.
Students have the opportunity, through the school’s partnership arrangements, to complete a range of certificates including, Volunteering, Hospitality, Business, Furniture Design, Veterinary Study, Child Studies, Automotive, and Media Design.
