Many schools today offer VET or trade training programs to students at senior secondary level.
Find out exactly why St Patrick’s is different by asking your school these key questions about their trade training program…
Q. Where is the training delivered?
A. At St Patrick’s, the majority of our training is delivered in our own state-of-the-art on-site workshops or at our own designated live sites. Some individual pre-vocational competencies that require access to specific resources may be delivered at a TAFE SA campus or on-site with one of our industry partners.
Q. Who delivers the pre-vocational training?
A. At St Patrick’s, teachers and the majority of the trainers delivering trade training are direct employees of the College. For the delivery of some individual competencies requiring specific expertise, we are able to draw on staff from TAFE SA.
Q. Who audits the pre-vocational training?
A. All training delivered at St Patrick’s is accredited and audited by TAFE SA under a formal partnership agreement.
Q. Who issues the Training qualifications?
A. As part of the St Patrick’s partnership with TAFE SA, TAFE SA issues the nationally recognised Qualifications and ‘Statements of Attainment’ for trade training undertaken at St Patrick’s.
Q. At what level is the trade training delivered?
A. At St Patrick’s training is delivered at Certificate II level. In the trades in which we offer courses, this is the level that industry tells us is best to maximise the opportunities for students to gain apprenticeships.
Q. How many normally timetabled lessons are missed to undertake the Trade Training program?
A. At St Patrick’s, our trade training program IS our program. Therefore there are NO lessons to catch up on because a student is involved in trade training.
Q. To what level are School-based Apprenticeships supported as part of the Trade Training program?
A. Due to the level of training provided and the timetable structure, students who gain a School-based Apprenticeship whilst attending St Patrick’s can spend as little as six weeks on-campus during Year 12, with the rest of the time spent in the workplace as a regular paid apprentice. This does not jeopardise the successful attainment of the SACE.
Q. How many students gain apprenticeships while still enrolled in the Trade Training program?
A. Since 2007, 2 out of every 3 students enrolled at St Patrick’s has commenced in an apprenticeship whilst still enrolled at school. Most of the remainder go on to commence apprenticeships in the months following graduation.
Q. How much work experience is part of the Trade Training program?
A. At St Patrick’s pre-apprenticeship students undertake a minimum of 6 weeks Work Experience as part of their program.
Q. Is direct entry to university still an option after graduating from the Trade Training program?
A. Students who undertake the Applied Engineering program at St Patrick’s are eligible for an ATAR allowing them to progress to university. This program offers a practical specialisation in either Electrotechnology or Metals & Engineering.