How trades academies are funded#

The programmes are a partnership between schools, tertiary institutions and employers.

Students enrolled in a trades academy programme generate funding that is divided between the school and a tertiary provider.

Budget 2026 invested an additional $69 million (new investment) to expand the trades academy programme by 10,000 places over the next 3 years.

More trades academy places for young people – Beehive.govt.nz

Investing in secondary achievement

How schools are funded#

Schools are funded by us on a pro-rata basis for general teaching and learning, and any trades learning, provided at the school.

Students enrolled in a trades academy are not counted on your schools' regular roll for resourcing purposes.

Schools with Secondary Tertiary Provider (STP) students are funded in their quarterly operational grant.

Your roll for 2027 has been allocated based on:

• each STP lead provider’s 2027 programme plan
• your March 2026 STP participation
• Ministry roll decisions on the level of expansion at each programme.

STP students are not included in the regular roll which is used to determine schools’ staffing entitlement and regular operational grants. Any increase in STP headcount and full-time equivalent (FTE) will increase the STP funding your school receives in the 1 January funding instalment. This can be viewed in the indicative Operational Funding Entitlement window on your provisional roll screen.

If your STP roll is lower on your 1 March return, your annual funding entitlement will be adjusted accordingly. 

You can see this funding in Pourato.

Pourato

Youth Guarantee has more information about the STP funding model and 2027 funding rates.

Trades Academies – Youth Guarantee

For more support and guidance regarding the effects of the STP funding model, contact us.

Email: [email protected]

Transport funding#

Some trades academies have high transport costs. Your school can apply for funding from us.

Email: [email protected]