Vocational Programmes
At Trident High School, we are dedicated to providing a supportive and enriched learning environment for our students. We believe in offering a wide range of opportunities that empower our students to achieve their full potential.
A focus at Trident is to equip our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to explore diverse career pathways, ensuring they are prepared for success in their future endeavours.
APEX
APEX (Academic Programme for Excellence) is for students who enjoy a challenge. APEX offers extension and acceleration in subjects, with extra support from teachers to grow skills like problem-solving and critical thinking. From Year 9, students can start working towards NCEA and aim for future success, including scholarships.
Whakapiki
Whakapiki ki te Ao Māori supports students to achieve in a learning environment that values Te Ao Māori and Te Reo Māori. It helps students succeed in both Māori and Pākehā worlds by using Māori knowledge and learning styles. Students don’t need to be fluent in Te Reo but should have an interest in Māori culture and values like manaakitanga (care), whanaungatanga (relationships), and kotahitanga (unity).
High Performance Sports
This Programme develops sport-specific fitness, focusing on power, coordination, agility, reaction, balance, speed, cardiovascular endurance, and sports psychology. We offer elite coaching and pathways to potential sporting professions. Using our fitness centre students will learn strength and conditioning, skill-related and health-related fitness, nutrition and sports psychology.
Service Academy
Our Service Academy offers a unique opportunity for students who enjoy structure, teamwork, and leadership. Open to selected Year 12 students (with Year 10 and Year 13 options available), the Academy is supported by the New Zealand Defence Force and includes several outdoor camps.
Students develop confidence, motivation, and discipline while working towards NCEA Level 2 standards in English, Maths, Physical Education, and Life Skills. It’s an excellent stepping stone into Defence, Police, or other service-related careers.
Allied Trades Training
In this project-based course, students gain practical experience by helping to renovate a house. Guided by a qualified builder and supported by industry experts, students learn skills in a range of trades—like plumbing, flooring, painting, kitchen installation, and more. This course helps students decide which trade suits them best and gives them useful experience for apprenticeships or entry-level work.
Landskills
Landskills is a practical, land-based programme for students aged 15 and over. This course teaches skills in farming and agriculture, alongside literacy, numeracy, and life skills. Students work towards Level 1 and 2 unit standards that can help them enter the primary industries or take the next step in training.
Pathways
Pathways is a hands-on programme that gives senior students work experience in industries they’re interested in—like building, retail, healthcare, or hospitality. Students are placed with real businesses where they can learn what a job is really like. They also complete training such as first aid and workplace safety. All activities contribute to NCEA and help students build a strong CV and employability skills.
Futures Academy
Trident is the lead provider of the Futures Academy which gives students the opportunity to combine school with learning a trade.
Students can study one to five days a week, training with various providers (including Trident Trades Training), while still working towards NCEA. Courses are available in trades like IT, Farming, Construction, Engineering, Automotive, Hair and Beauty, Electrical, Diving, and more. Students build skills, earn credits, and get real-world experience that can lead them straight into work or further training.
