Senior programme (Years 12 and 13)
Westland High School offers personal growth and development through the experience of outdoor education.
- Course duration: full academic year (late January – late November). Students can enrol for one or more terms (10 weeks)
- Course level: year 12 and 13 classes offer units of learning on the NZ National Qualification Framework. Year 12 offers level 2 units, while year 13 offers level 3 units
- Small classes: maximum of 11 students per class. There are three senior classes
- Hours of study: four to six hours per week as well as regular day/multi day blocks
- Dedicated staff: staff are passionate about challenging and safe outdoor recreation, with the outdoors being their personal choice of recreation
- NZOIA qualified instructors: teaching staff are accredited to offer this programme.
Teaching and assessment of the school’s outdoor education programme are geared towards units in the following topics:
Term One
River work/kayaking/river crossing
Term Two
Tramping
Term Three
Basic mountaineering/rock climbing and abseiling/snowcaving/navigation/weather
Term Four
Rock climbing/kayaking
Skiing is available as an extra.
Students at Westland High School gain an unsurpassed wilderness experience through the outdoor education programme, with national parks of rainforest, majestic mountains and vast driftwood-strewn beaches easily accessible. Within five minutes of the school, students can reach the river, bush, lakes or beach.
Being so close to such a diverse environment means the school is able to offer a significant number of practical sessions. Highlights have included helicopter access to mountaineering and kayaking trips, snowcaving, and tramping to wilderness hot springs.
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Features:
· Three senior classes (two Year 12 and one Year 13)
· Class size limited to 11 people – safe ratios of staff to students readily achieved
· Proximity of environment – results in a lot of practical work within the school timetable
· High level of staff enthusiasm and skill
· Flexible programme that caters for skills/ interests of students, weather
· Excellent review reported by independent SFRITO audit.
Current Quality Assessment (
SFRITO –Sport, Fitness and Recreation Industry Training Organisation
Sfrito is the industry training organization responsible sport, fitness, community recreation and outdoor education sectors…... it is responsible for setting recreation standards, facilitating training and assessment for the industry.
Points made by the assessor:
“The programme objectives are very sound and promote a holistic approach, based on opportunities available in the local environment. Programme objectives are clearly stated and reflect the dedication and passion of staff…
“The dedication and professionalism of the staff provides a great role model of how a quality outdoor education programme incorporating some realistic unit standards can achieve the holistic educational aims of the school.
“Overall, the review process revealed that
“Safety and risk identification
The gear store is well resourced….wide range of gear.. in good condition..
All safety policies, medical/parent information, risk disclosure statements and safety management plans were very thought through, and
No incidents have occurred for sometime..
“All staff hold industry qualifications and recreate extensively with a number of outdoor instructors…the outdoor programme recognises the importance of our cultural heritage, access issues…..”
Objectives: a holistic course based on the following objectives, consideration of opportunities in the local environment, available equipment, student and staff interest and expertise, that
- Promotes personal growth through fun, challenging and positive experiences in the outdoors
- Develops an awareness of what the local environment offers and provide skills to treat it with respect
- Develops co-operation, teamwork and group responsibility
- Provides skills and knowledge in a variety of pursuits to provide a base for further development.
- Gives students the opportunity to gain nationally recognised credits on the NZQA framework.
Year 12 Programme: all activities depend on the interest and skills of the students
|
Unit |
Activity |
|
477 |
Demonstrate kayaking skills in sheltered or slow moving water includes a concern for the environment and others, select and care of appropriate clothing & equipment, effective strokes, wet exits, skills in safety and rescue . |
|
476 |
Roll a kayak |
|
443 |
Demonstrate skills with ropes, knots, anchors and belays for mountaineering includes knots, harnesses, anchors and linking, belay techniques. |
|
445 |
Demonstrate top-roped rock climbing and abseiling on single pitches includes knowledge of ropes, climbing calls, abseil hazards and set up, use and care of ropes, climbing skills |
|
425 |
Plan and experience a day’s tramps below snowline including access, clothing, personal gear, food |
|
427 |
Cross rivers includes potential hazards, river features and types of rivers |
|
431 |
Navigate in good visibility for land based activities includes orientation, planning trips, |
|
439 |
Complete overnight trips in snow includes establishing and using a snow camp, taking the appropriate clothing, gear, food and dealing with waste. |
Year 13 Programme: all activities depend on the interest and skills of the students
|
428 |
Manage overnight and multi day tramping trips below the snowline includes planning, tramping skills, weather maps, gear/clothing/sleeping bags, food |
|
478 |
Demonstrate kayaking skills on grade 2 water includes planning, safety procedures, river reading skills, paddling effectively, rolling a kayak. |
|
492 |
Demonstrate river rescue skills includes eskimo rescue, tow kayak, front straddle, swimmer rescue, throw bag rescue, river crossing, gear retrieval.. |
|
430 |
Survive in an outdoor environment below the snowline |
|
440 |
Demonstrate mountaineering skills |