TKW Alternative Education

Te Kaupapa Whakaora (TKW) is an alternative education programme of “second chance” learning for students 13 to 16 years of age who have been excluded from mainstream education. It is a place where young people are encouraged to feel safe to “come as they are”, and learn in an alternative way which results in them being educated more holistically.

With the culture and kaupapa of TKW being “a place of respect and participation”, our young people are empowered and challenged to work towards achieving educational goals for numeracy and literacy, development of key competencies and attainment of other important learning goals (in areas such as outdoor/physical education) so they are ready to transition well, either back to mainstream school, or onwards to higher education or employment.

Contact us for more information.

Numeracy/Literacy

Like all schools in New Zealand, Te Kaupapa Whakaora (TKW) focuses on increasing the literacy and numeracy skills of their students.

The goal is to fill the gaps in their formal education that they may have come to us with, and start working towards NZQA achievement standards.

Alternative Education

In addition to being educated by Kip McGrath in their numeracy and literacy, our young people are given many opportunities to be educated by alternative means using a wide range of activities.

Activities include:

• Outdoor Education (surfing, mountain biking, tramping, rock climbing, river activities)
• Physical Education (touch, soccer, dodgeball, basketball, running, fitness, athletics)
• Journalling (poetry, rap, diary entry)
• Having REAL conversations in their small groups
• Sitting delivered unit standards from externals that cover Drugs and Alcohol, Anger Management, Routine Tasks (how to work in a team)
• Termly Camps
• Noho Marae Overnight Stays
• Retreats

Transition for Youth

Our tutors work alongside each young person, their whānau and an Alternative Education transition specialist to create a relevant transition goal which we then work together towards achieving.

This goal is decided together prior to the young person turning 16, and based upon what is best for each individual. We aim to transition each young person either back into mainstream education, into higher education, or onwards to employment.

Whānau Engagement

We place high importance on making sure that whānau are a meaningful part of their young person’s educational world.

We invite the whānau to be present during their young person’s IDP (individual development plan) meeting at the end of each term, and also encourage them to attend our termly Whānau Evenings where they get to see progress and achievements for the term, and a prize giving. Kai and music are shared together with the music often performed by the young people themselves.