Meet Aleks, Zane and Cedrick - three lads likely to go on to Year 12, after having a study and career package mapped out for them by their school.

Zane Tukerangi, 15, wants to be a chef - "and cook for the richest man in the world". Cedrick Te Ura, 16, has his sights set on being a professional musician or rugby league player, while Aleks Kojic, 16, is thinking about accountancy.

The teenagers are among the first group of students in NSW to be affected by the new school leaving age, which rises to 17 from January 2010.

But they had already decided to stay on at school so they can acquire the skills and knowledge they will need in the future.

Their Sydney high school puts together an extensive package of study and career options for them, starting in Year 9 with The Learning Journey where students present school projects to an interview panel and describe how that work helped them fulfil personal and career goals.

From there, students who don't want to take the traditional academic pathway through senior high school can apply to have the school's Advanced Career Package tailored to their dreams of future employment or study.

From Year 10, students who take the package do English and maths, a subject called work studies (which includes regular work experience), study a TAFE course one day a week and take at least one vocational education subject at school (such as hospitality, construction, retail, metals and engineering, business services and information technology).

Aleks, now in Year 11, says work studies "is the best subject in Year 11". He has learned about the world of business, from customer service, to career goal-setting, effective communication and working collaboratively. After a recent stint of work experience in a bookshop, he was offered a part-time job.

Students also gain handy credentials such as barista certificates and hear from regular guest speakers about how they achieved success in work or study.

Zane and Cedrick, who are both in Year 10, will next year take work studies as part of their study package. Zane has this year studied hospitality and food technology, which will help him in his quest to become a chef. He loves to cook at home and favours "anything Italian".

Cedrick, who plays the guitar and drums - and rugby league - wants to stay at school until Year 12 "because it will help me with my music". As part of his career package, he will next year start a TAFE course in music production.

Their school principal, Helen Wyatt, says the career package gives teenagers an alternative pathway through the senior years and links a number of curriculum options with training and work experience.

Parents are closely involved in the planning, being invited to information nights, personally phoned by the principal to discuss options and provided with advice in small group sessions.

The school has found that students who take the career package often have increased self-esteem and confidence in their learning, attributed to the fact that they can see their future career coming into focus.