The STAR (Secondary Tertiary Alignment Resource) programme is designed to help Year 11-13 students move smoothly from school into tertiary study or work. Schools are given a certain amount of funding for STAR, so the programme and what courses are offered can vary. Students study STAR free of charge at CPIT.
STAR can be a good option if you're thinking of leaving school early, because you may be able to pick up skills that will help you into a job or further study later on. STAR courses are designed to complement the programmes offered by the schools, by adding specialised tuition and facilities that schools cannot provide themselves. New Zealand state-funded secondary schools can use their special STAR funding to pay the fees for these courses. Private secondary schools are welcome to join the programme. CPIT are also able to develop custom built courses for individual schools or clusters of schools.