Vocational education and training courses (VET)
Macintyre High School offers Vocational Education courses in the industry curriculum frameworks of Hospitality, Information & Digital Technology, Business Services, Construction, Metal & Engineering and Primary Industries. Each course offers nationally recognised accreditation, as well as contributing towards the Higher School Certificate. The courses are based on national industry competency standards and are written and assessed using competency based terms. Students who satisfy requirements achieve Certificate I, II or III in that area dependant on the qualification they are completing.
An essential component of each course is the industry specific workplacement. Each student is required to spend 35 hours each year in a relevant workplace. This is coordinated by an agency external to the school, but with strong school and student collaboration.
VET courses offer students an excellent opportunity to explore these industry areas and gain accreditation and experience at the same time. Students can also access other courses including Retail, Beauty, Hairdressing, Animal Studies and Automotive through links with Inverell TAFE and Distance Education. Macintyre High School also has many students who combine these VET courses with school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, improving their work opportunities and skillset.
Macintyre High School is fortunate enough to have well equipped industry standard facilities for Metals & Engineering, Hospitality and Primary Industries. This is due to the establishment of Trade Training Centres in each of these frameworks allowing more realistic workshop areas for course delivery.
Our school also enjoys repeated success at the NSW State Training Awards with past students being named as Regional and NSW State winners, as well as earning Australian Vocational Education & Training awards.
Macintyre High School also regularly participates in the WorldSkills Competitions at Regional, State and National levels in all frameworks.
Macintyre High School has commenced offering a Stage 5 VET subject in Agriculture called Agri-foods whereby students receive a Certificate I in Agriculture. This is proving to be a popular course and enjoyed as a practical subject. Keen and motivated students can begin early commencement of Primary Industries in Year 10, allowing a pathway to Certificate III achievement. The school has strong interschool links with Holy Trinity School, and together the schools partner as the Sapphire City Primary Industries Trade Skills Centre.
There is scope for students to complete a Certificate II in foundation skills for work in a variety of delivery modes. For further information please contact the Vet Head Teacher or Careers Advisor.
Extract from School Newsletter:
"Great news occurred on Sunday 9 October at the Worldskills closing ceremony awards night with Jake Cracknell receiving the Silver Medal for this national competition in the Vocational Education subject area Primary Industries.
Jake competed as one of four NSW state representatives over three days to showcase his rural skills. This included PTO hook-up and use, tractor operation, fence repairs and knots, livestock handling and chemical use with calibration of a boom-spray. Each task involved a significant theory component. Jake was 0.25 of a mark behind the gold medal winner.
Mrs Snaith was also one of three judge officials at this biennial event which is organised by VETis. There is also an open section where gold medal winners then have an opportunity to represent Australia in 2017 which is held in Dubai; something to aspire to for all future apprentices, trainees and TAFE students.
There were 56 trades represented at the competition with close to 500 students and 300 officiating trainers and judges. There are photos on page two showcasing some of the excellent projects competitions worked on at the event, plus some highlighting Jake and the NSW teams involvement."