BACKThis year, Rangitoto College launched Industry Aligned Technology (IAT), an exciting new course where Year 10 students rotate through Hospitality, Construction, and Engineering. Designed to give students a hands-on preview of senior school vocational pathways, our very first rotation successfully concluded in Week 3 of term 2.
Hospitality
In Hospitality, we start by covering basic food safety, hygiene, and kitchen equipment. Then, we begin our project: food truck food. While we discuss different cuisines, techniques, and the limitations of a food truck, we taste our way through a variety of dishes. Students then get the opportunity to trial their dishes before their final presentation. In a high-energy room, I not only witness cooking skills being developed, but also essential life skills like leadership, communication, and time management. – Nina Van Bosch
Construction
In Construction, IAT students build their skills from the ground up, creating innovative collapsible chairs that slot into themselves for easy storage. This unique project introduces them to specialised wood workshop machinery and the intricate process of laminating curved legs, developing crucial foundational techniques. The first rotation was a massive success; the workshop was buzzing with energy as students quickly built up their confidence handling industrial tools. Mastering these fundamentals early gives students a head start, allowing them to truly hit the ground running in senior construction. – Josh Chapman
Engineering
Our Engineering students constructed fully functioning Rocket Stoves. This intensive, hands-on project challenged them to think, plan, and execute like modern industry professionals. To manufacture the stove’s precision components, students mastered advanced workshop techniques, including MIG welding, milling, drilling, and the safe operation of technical hand tools. Working to strict tolerances ensured every piece aligned perfectly. By translating drawings into a tangible, working product, they have gained invaluable, real-world fabrication experience – skills that directly connect to senior school engineering. – David Edmonds
Whether they ultimately pursue senior Technology subjects, vocational trade pathways, or tertiary education, the practical skills, focus, and work ethic they build this year will serve them incredibly well in the future.
