What is Otago Secondary Tertiary College? (TRADES)

We at Roxburgh Area School recognise that the learning environment at school doesn’t suit everyone and sometimes a blend of high school and applied learning is a great option to keep students engaged in education.

The youth pathways, via Otago Secondary Tertiary College (OSTC), offer high school students a chance to learn applied skills, keep earning NZQA credits, gain work related skills and experience the tertiary study environment.

We have a range of OSTC programmes offered at the Cromwell campus. The Otago Secondary Tertiary College (OSTC) delivers level 2 and 3 courses in some of the key trades in New Zealand. This vocational pathway is to ensure that you are building the right foundation skills and knowledge for the field you want to work in. You have to be a high school student to be eligible to study through OSTC.

The courses offered through OSTC are Automotive, Building, Hospitality, Cookery, Beauty Therapy and Horticulture.

How does this fit with High School Study?

Students spend one or two days a week at OSTC and the rest of the week at school as usual. The best part is they gain NCEA credits while also gaining real-world, practical experience in the industry of their choice.  This will help them get on the right career path after they finish school.