Leave to Learn

Leaving to learn, or in other words, learning outside the school grounds, is a key part of the Big Picture design for learning. It helps make learning more relevant to students and connects them to new people and places where they can explore their interests.

Leaving to learn is not only about doing internships but can also be about doing short-term placements, going on a scientific field trip, attending workshops at a college or university, participating in sport or coaching, visiting a gallery or museum, volunteering at a community organisation, part-time work, etc.

These sorts of experiences help them to:

• Test out their interests and ideas for life after school, while still at school.

• Connect theory to practice in the real world.

• Get access to the latest technologies and thinking.

• Start building your network of mentors who can help you achieve your goals.

Internships don’t have to be about a ‘job’ or a career’. They can just be about ‘interest’. For example, they might want to know how chocolate is made, especially the really fancy ones, but they know they don’t want a career as a chocolatier. Learning through internship (or ‘doing an LTI’) is usually a 3-part process:

1. Informational Interview

2. Shadow day

3. Internship

If you are a business or interested in becoming a mentor for one of our Big Picture Academy students please do not hesitate to call the school and contact the Stage 6 Advisor. We have students interested in Plumbing, Cabinet Making, Mechanics, Fitness, Psychology, Zookeeping/Conservation, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dance, 3D printing, Childcare and Technology.