Students are provided with information, advice and experience they need to enable a smooth transition from school to their chosen tertiary or career pathway. We enjoy a close relationship with our community, local employers and tertiary institutions.
Careers Programmes
  • Every senior student is encouraged to seek individualised career information, advice and counselling from our Careers Advisor.
  • The school maintains close contact with regional Polytechnics and Universities through their liaison officers who visit the school and visits tertiary open days.
  • All Year 10 students are given the opportunity to attend the Careers Expo and participate in The Real Game, a career focused activity.
  • Students can also use the computer programme Career Quest and the school Careers and Pathways website to help them access information.
STAR Courses
Senior students may take short vocational courses with a range of providers through the Secondary and Tertiary Alignment Resource.

Gateway
The Gateway Programme aims to create a pathway from school to the world of work by placing students in a chosen workplace for one day each week throughout the school year. This gives students a wonderful opportunity to try out potential careers and build relationships with employers. Students also work on industry-related Unit Standards which may help them with future employment/training. The Tertiary Education Commission funds the Gateway Programme and in 2016 Oxford Area School will have 10 positions available to selected Year 12 and 13 students.
Course Counselling
All students have the opportunity to discuss their choice of subjects for the next year and in particular, the subjects that are needed for their academic and career pathways. Specific course counselling is held with students and can include their parents at the end of Years 10, 11 and 12 to ensure informed subject decisions are made for the following year.

​Goal Setting - Yr 1-13
At the beginning of the year we have a Goal Setting day, where all students and their parent come in for appointments to set SMART goals for the year. Some are goals for the term, as well as their longer term goals. We encourage students to work on academic and personal goals in the senior school as we believe this to be an invaluable life skill.

Senior Mentoring
The Year 12 and some Year 13 students are all given the opportunity to have a mentor who helps them to set realistic academic and personal goals and to help them monitor their progress for the year.  They also help students with their career planning and look at what is required in order to progress down a pathway. They meet each term to support the students and to see how progress is going.