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SmartPaths

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic is committed to strengthening our relationship with secondary schools. We aim to provide barrier-free pathways from secondary school into tertiary studies and future employment for senior students.

The Polytechnic has creatively explored many varied models of partnership and alignment projects with secondary schools. The result is a selection of opportunities between the secondary and tertiary sectors, branded ‘SmartPaths’. These range from one-day, on-campus experiences to year-long partnership programmes, taught in secondary schools using Bay of Plenty Polytechnic resources and accreditation.

SmartPaths programmes are developed in such a way that wherever possible they will pathway into further study at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic. There's a range of different SmartPaths programmes available. Find out more about them here in our SmartGuide (pdf 3MB).

Choose from...

Partnerships (SP)

The partnership programmes are delivered in secondary schools over the duration of the school year (February to November), using the Polytechnic’s resources and accreditation. Results are then moderated and formally ratified through Polytechnic policy.

All off-site SmartPartnership (SP) programmes need to be registered with the Polytechnic prior to the start of the year of study:

  • A school registration partnership form online for each specific partnership programme must be completed.
     
  • This registration form enables a Memorandum of Understanding, and/or annual Schedules to the Memorandum, to be drawn up between Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and the secondary school prior to the commencement of the programme.
     
  • All teachers, whether they have taught SmartPaths previously or not, must provide a teacher registration form with a brief up-to-date CV, to the SmartPaths administrator prior to the commencement of the programme.

Our partnership programmes cover the following areas:

  • Animal care 
  • Automotive 
  • Culinary skills 
  • Farming for your future 
  • Marine studies 
  • Preparation for teacher aiding
  • Sewing skills 
  • Sports leadership 

Individual Programmes (SIP)

Many of the unit standards available in the partnership courses can be purchased separately for individual Gateway students. 

Short Courses (SD)

Shorter courses are held on campus at Bongard or Windermere and are delivered as a block, or one day per week over 5-6 weeks. Schools can nominate any number of students and we will make up classes as required.

For information on short courses and their availability please refer to Youth Pathways.

Fees, Printing and Results

The fees quoted for all programmes are exclusive of GST and cover all course costs except booklets, which will be printed at each school from a DVD provided by Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.

Secondary schools will be responsible for registering unit standards achieved from SmartPaths programmes with NZQA. All unit standard results must be ratified and schools officially advised by Bay of Plenty Polytechnic prior to submitting them to NZQA. Schools need to advise NZQA that Bay of Plenty Polytechnic is the 'provider'.

All SmartPaths students are required to enrol with Bay of Plenty Polytechnic to enable their results to be moderated and recorded in accordance with Bay of Plenty Polytechnic policy.

SmartPaths Registration Forms

Please refer to the SmartGuide (pdf 3.1MB) when filling out these forms.

Teacher and Student Forms:

Other Forms:

SmartPaths Contacts

To talk to someone about SmartPaths, please phone:

  • Jo Neal, Secondary Tertiary Advisor, on 07 571 0190 ext. 6609
  • Jeanette McQuarters, SmartPaths Administrator, on 07 571 0190 ext. 6135
  • email smartpaths@boppoly.ac.nz