Choosing the right path after school can feel overwhelming for young people and their families. Vocational Pathways provide a clear framework that links NCEA qualifications to the entry level skills and knowledge sought after by employers and training providers.

Perhaps you are wondering if your 15-year-old would be better off leaving school and getting a job, or studying elsewhere? Leaving school, a year early does not define who our young people can become. Many teens leave school early and move into apprenticeships and gain their qualifications on the job. Some decide to continue their study with a tertiary education provider.

An Early Leaving Exemption (ELX) is an approval from the Ministry of Education for your 15 year old child to be exempt from enrolment at a school. The process is designed for those young people who need to leave school before the age of 16, which is the age they are required to be engaged with compulsory education.