New facilities build pathways at Redcliffe State High School

Redcliffe State High School has recently opened new Industrial Technology and Design (ITD) facilities, giving students access to industry-equivalent machinery and qualifications which will give them a head start when they graduate.

Design Technology Head of Department Mark Tilley says the existing ITD block has been upgraded and an additional machine room built, with break-out space for storage of big projects.

“The D Block upgrade is so we can start facilitating some of our senior certification subjects. It also gives our students more space. Previously, the rooms were quite dark and dusty. We’ve added things like dust extraction and sealed floors,” Mr Tilley says.

“We’ve had a machinery upgrade too. All the machinery in the workshop is now on par with industry. The students are leaving here and working with machinery that’s more relevant to trade and real-world context.

“The school also allocated additional funding to ensure the provision of a wide range of machinery.”

The new facilities opened in November, with Year 10 students using them before the end of the school year.

“The kids are loving the space. It’s a lot lighter and cleaner,” Mr Tilley says.

“We’re really happy with how it’s come together.”

The new ITD precinct provides more teaching space and room for students to work in.

“The break-out space gives us room for things like framing and brick laying. It gives us a controlled environment where the kids can work in,” Mr Tilley says.

He says offering certificate courses opens more doors for students, when they graduate high school.

“Certificate subjects such as Cert II in Construction Pathways and Cert II in Engineering Pathways mean that these students can transition straight into an apprenticeship,” Mr Tilley explains.

“A lot of those units that they’ve already completed will then be ticked off their apprenticeship or course they may go into. That means what they’ve done at school has additional benefit for when they hit the real world.”

It’s precisely what Principal Barry Wallett wanted to achieve when he arrived at the school in term 2.

Mr Wallett said he wanted to increase Redcliffe State High School’s “footprint around vocational education and training”.

“We’re looking to have really clear pathways for our students - our academic students, our students who need to go into further learning through TAFE or other opportunities, or students who may want to go direct to work … we cater for all of them.

“As a Principal, I’m all about choice. I want my kids to graduate with purpose and dignity, and I want them to have choice when they graduate.”

For more information, visit redcliffeshs.eq.edu.au