Establishment process
This information must be read in the context of the background information supplied in the previous section.
Applying for recognition as a lead provider
Recognition as a lead provider is the first step in the establishment of a trades academy. Final approval for a trades academy to commence operation is dependent on the recognised lead provider successfully completing the establishment and approval processes.
Application process
Organisations wishing to apply for recognition as a lead provider must submit a completed application form by the due date. The information for candidates booklet contains a summary of the website information.
For further information contact trades.academy@minedu.govt.nz
Establishment process
The Minister’s recognition of a lead provider represents her agreement that they can:
- begin negotiating and formalising partnerships with other organisations likely to be involved, to establish the trades academy for a 2011 start date.
- determine governance and management structures, including an administrating partners group. This will include (minimum of three organisations) at least one of the following:
- school partner
- tertiary partner
- industry/employer partner
- meet with the Ministry of Education to develop an establishment plan that will include:
- proposed timeframes
- partnership arrangements
- delivering trades and technology programmes
- determining student numbers
- analysing and preparing the budget to set up the trades academy, including any capital costs.
The establishment plan
When a proposal for a trades academy has been approved by the Minister, it will need to provide an establishment plan. This is to assure the Secretary for Education that each responsibility area identified by the Ministry of Education has been considered and planned for.
The establishment plan must include:
- outcomes
- budget/cost implications
- timelines
- roles and responsibilities.
The plan will also include an executive summary that outlines how this plan will reflect the success start up of the trades academy.
Establishment plan content
| Area |
Action |
| Strategic planning |
Develop and document aims, vision, strategic and management plans for the trades academy. |
| Fund holding arrangements |
Determine processes to manage and monitor payments to partner organisations.
Document procedures for employing and managing administration staff (including the course coordinator). |
| Enrolment process |
Document transparent processes that include application and sign off from parents and school. |
| Monitoring and reporting |
Determine student management systems for recording and managing student enrolments, attendance and achievement.
Establish reporting frameworks for the schools and students and the Ministry of Education. |
| Student welfare and safety |
Establish and outline pastoral care and discipline roles and responsibilities for each trades academy.
Determine and outline career guidance that will support students to achieve their goals.
Establish each partner organisations’ roles while students are transported from one organisation to another. |
| Education programmes |
Develop dual NCEA/tertiary qualification learning programmes.
Identify respective partner organisations’ key roles and responsibilities including reporting on achievement. |
| Partnerships |
Develop a communications plan to include regular progress updates to interested partner organisations, key messages for media enquiries and meetings with interested schools and boards of trustees.
Develop criteria to support the decision-making processes involved in purchasing services from participating partners.
Develop schedules to be included in an MOU template with individual partners (refer to MOU details below). |
Support for establishment
A limited amount of funding may be available to support trades academies develop and implement an establishment plan.
This funding could be used for:
- developing programme content
- leading the overall trades academy establishment
- having a dedicated person available to form relationships.
An agreement between the Ministry and the trades academy is needed before funding is available. This agreement will outline the financial assistance needed to establish and run the trades academy, for example, the set up costs to establish students’ educational programmes and pastoral care.