About Us

Working with schools

Primary ITO has a specialist team that works with schools throughout the country. We can connect businesses with local schools and assist with recruiting new industry candidates.

Gateway Programme

Very often university can be a default for students who 'don't know what they want to do'. Designed to remedy this situation, the Gateway programme is for senior students (Year 11, 12 and 13), in which students undertake work experience one day per week in order to create meaningful and genuine on job placement learning and employment experiences. Primary ITO partners with secondary schools so the students work opportunities are supported by the school and formal knowledge and skills training and assessment. The student is fully funded through Gateway Funding and their school.

Trades Academy

Many school leavers rely on vocational education but have no clear pathway. The Primary ITO Trades Academy has been designed to help correct this and now has 500 funded students in 34 schools.

The programme works alongside NCEA. Year 11 or 12 students can combine their NCEA studies with a National Certificate in Agriculture, or Horticulture (Level 1 or 2). Blending classroom study with on-job learning, the Trades Academy includes one day per week industry placement in Year 12. As the Academy is Government funded there are limited spaces available.