Simon Bridges went back to school this week when he popped into the Western Bay of Plenty Trades Academy to check up on the progress of this year's first intake of secondary school students.

The Trades Academy, hosted by Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, is the result of the government's Secondary-Tertiary Programmes initiative to encourage new ways to engage young people in education.

Liam Gatfield from Aquinas College with Simon Bridges.

Simon has supported the academy since its inception.

'It's been fantastic to see the Trades Academy up and running.

'There are a large number of students loving learning in this environment and it's great to see them doing things with a practical focus likely to lead to jobs. I think the Trades Academy is a great success with room to expand.”

While on campus Simon spent time with the polytechnic's senior management and Trades Academy tutors.

He also met with the secondary students, observed their work - even taking one of the automotive class's go-karts for a spin around the car park (Trades Academy automotive students learn to build these during the year).

Each Tuesday over 75 secondary school students from 10 different Western Bay of Plenty high schools come to the polytechnic to study courses ranging from automotive, business administration and computing, to construction, cafe operations, early childhood education and mechanical engineering.

Programmes offered through the Trades Academy are designed to give students the knowledge, skills, relevant NCEA credits and a head start in further education or an industry-related career.

Secondary-Tertiary advisor David Hodgkinson says getting a Trades Academy started in the Western Bay of Plenty had been something secondary schools and the Polytechnic had been working on as a priority.

'It's great to have succeeded in getting it underway this year; many people have worked together to contribute to this.

'Student feedback has been very positive. They're enjoying their respective programmes, the opportunity to get credits towards their NCEA qualification, as well as experiencing and exploring a vocational pathway into further education and work.”

The polytechnic will be refining the Trades Academy during 2015 and will continue to work closely with local secondary schools to provide a stimulating programme for Western Bay of Plenty secondary school students.