Level 3 Building Academy Full Time

Welcome to the Building Academy

Nau mai ki te Whare Aronui o Tiriwa. The Building Academy welcomes you. 

This Academy creates real opportunities for enthusiastic students in carpentry and construction. Over the year, the students will be involved in building a three bedroom, 100m² house on site at MHS. This is a one year, full time Academy which allows students to achieve NCEA Level 3 and the Level 3 BCATS in Carpentry upon successful completion.

In 2025 the programme will include some BCITO L4 standards, (we are the first school in NZ to be given these privileges). This will allow students to gain some credit towards their building apprenticeship, should they proceed in that direction. There will be some work experience involved, most likely in Semester Two, where students could be off - site at a local business/builders continuing their training, then back at MHS for the other three days of the week.

Entry into the Building Academy is at the discretion of the Building Tutor and Senior Management after an application is made. There will be a trial period which lasts to mid-Term 1.

All the standards covered in the course contribute to Level 3 NCEA or higher, plus students will have the opportunity of gaining the following certificates: Site Safe Passport, First Aid Certificate, Fork Hoist license, Ramset Powder Actuated Tool and the Paslode Nail Gun Certificate.

Students will also gain competency with a comprehensive range of building power tools. Also, they will be trained in the Health and Safety requirements of modern construction sites and familiarity with the requirements of both employers and employees under the Health & Safety Act and Regulations.

There are no course fees for the Building Academy, but students will need to purchase the Building Academy Uniform.

The Building Academy Uniform.

The regulation MHS Black Jersey (only for students who previously attended Massey High) plus the following items, some of which must be purchased through school. See Ms Maxwell or Mr Hackett at the Academy Offices.

• A good quality Orange hi viz polar fleece Parka or Orange Hi vis hoodie. (More are likely to use this colder option!)
• A set of Academy polo shirts
• Socks
• Orange Hi-vis Raincoat
• A good quality pair of safety boots
• Black cargo shorts or longs

The Academy uniform should not be purchased until acceptance into this academy is guaranteed.

Course Description: 

The Level 3 building academy is a continuation of the Level 2 carpentry course. The students will build a 3-bedroom house throughout the year as their major project. Although the practical component is similar, the Level 3 course has a larger focus on project management than carpentry theory. Students will understand the building process in terms of materials selection and how to manage different trades throughout the build. The course also has a large CAD (computer aided design) component. Students will learn how to draw the house with 3D software and produce a scaled set of plans to read from.

Course structure. 

The course runs full time, (all day), five days a week. The start and finish of the day can be different to the rest of the school. There will be some extra days during the school year depending on the progress of the house build. The finish of the school year will also be dependent on the house build and students will be notified by the building tutor. The current existing standards are listed in the following tables. (Subject to change).

Individual education plans, IEPs. 

All students will have regular IEP meetings to check their progress towards their vocational pathways award and/or NCEA.

Preferred subject choices along with Building. 

The Level 3 Building Preference for Academy places will be given to students who have successfully completed Multi Skills or Level 2 Carpentry or have a desire to make a career in this employment area. 

Students may only select ONE academy.

To apply for an academy choose ONE of the following

• Complete the online MHS course selection process and select the Academy (AWVA), you wish to apply for.
• All academy students will need to fill out an AWVA one page application form. See the Academy Offices for a form.

  Or email Sarah on [email protected] When emailing please state which academy course you wish to apply for.