About Secondary Tertiary Alignment Resource (STAR)
Background
In 1996 a ministerial reference group recommended that additional funding for secondary schools could provide relevant and beneficial programmes in non-national curriculum courses for their senior students.
The courses:
- include work-based learning
- lead towards credit for unit standards for vocational, education and training courses at level 1 or above
- lead to a quality assured tertiary qualification at a level beyond that of a typical year 13 course that is usually offered in a senior secondary school
- include short introductory courses giving students a taste of a tertiary education or work experience.
Benefits of the STAR programme
Secondary schools use STAR to give students a smooth transition from school to further education or employment. STAR particularly benefits students who are at risk of not achieving or making a smooth transition. Schools can identify these students’ needs and tailor the programme to meet those needs.
STAR
- gives schools a unique opportunity to work with local tertiary education providers and potential employers to support students to explore options and make choices about pathways to work or further education.
- provides an opportunity to increase students’ engagement in their learning by highlighting the relevance of their schoolwork to their future.
"STAR is, in essence, the most widely used school resource for addressing the issues of engagement and relevance in the senior secondary schooling years.
"STAR provides a way for schools to acknowledge (and begin to deal with) the contestability of their school curriculum and pedagogies alongside those of universities, polytechnics and other private tertiary establishments."
Vaughan and Kenneally 2003 "A Constellation of Prospects: A Review of STAR"
Well structured STAR programmes reflect the goals in the following strategies:
STAR benefits
| Benefits for students |
Benefits for schools |
| Opportunities to try out possible careers |
Activities tailored to meet student’s individual needs |
| Can gain new skills that are appropriate to the workplace |
Up-to-date industry specific knowledge and resources |
| Can trial courses that lead to a qualification |
Wider range of courses offered |
| A curriculum that is more relevant to working life |
Courses at school or with external providers |
| Practical “hands on” work-based experience |
Curriculum aligned with tertiary study and/or the workplace |
| Chance to experience a different learning environment |
Access to activities in the local community |
| Courses at no cost |
Funds which are directly managed |