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Services academies
Services academies are military-focused programmes delivered within secondary schools.
The purpose of a services academy is to:
- encourage students to stay engaged in learning by providing a motivating and disciplined programme;
- help students to gain improved qualifications and help them prepare to move successfully into the workforce or further education and training.
Target student group
The target student group is year 12 and 13 students (in particular Māori and Pasifika boys) who are at risk of disengaging or have disengaged from school. Schools will also be able to enrol students in year 11 who would benefit from a military-focused programme. Students will be enrolled as full-time students in the Services Academy schools.
Funding
Schools who are operating Services' Academies will receive a grant of $90,000 each year to support the Services Academy. This funding is to:
- employ an Academy Director to run the Academy. The Academy Director will be employed by the school Board and report to the Principal;
- cover costs of uniforms, travel to courses and purchasing additional courses for students.
In addition to the school funding, the Ministry of Education contracts the New Zealand Defence Force to provide courses for Services Academy students.
Programme
Each services academy will offer around 20 students a twelve-month programme. Students will be expected to:
- work towards NCEA Level 2 and attain a minimum of NCEA Level 1 Literacy and Numeracy, as well as other credits from the National Qualifications Framework appropriate to their interests and career choices;
- participate in a range of motivating and challenging learning experiences provided in association with the New Zealand Defence Force's youth development unit. These include a two week induction course, a leadership course and advanced leadership course, a coast to coast course and other outdoor based activities.
Services academy schools
The following is a list of schools that currently operate services academies:
| Aurora College | Invercargill |
| Flaxmere College | Hastings |
| Gisborne Girls’ High School | Gisborne |
| Glenfield College | Auckland (Northshore) |
| Greymouth High School | Greymouth |
| Haeata Community College | Christchurch |
| Horowhenua College | Levin |
| Huntly College | Huntly |
| James Cook High School | Auckland |
| Kaitaia College | Kaitaia |
| Kelston Boys’ High School | Auckland |
| Murupara Area School | Murupara |
| Northland College | Northland |
| Trident High School | Whakatane |
| Makoura College | Masterton |
| Mana College | Porirua |
| Naenae College | Lower Hutt |
| Onehunga High School | Auckland |
| Otahuhu College | Auckland |
| Queen Elizabeth College | Palmerston North |
| St Paul’s College | Auckland |
| Tamaki College | Auckland |
| Tangaroa College | Auckland |
| Tikipunga High School | Whangarei |
| Tokoroa High School | Tokoroa |
| Tongariro School | Turangi |
| Wairoa College | Wairoa |
| Waitakere College | Waitakere |
| Whanganui City College | Whanganui |
For more information about joining a service academy, please contact the schools directly.
For more information about service academies in general, please email service.academies@education.govt.nz .