Work Experience
UNIFROG CAREERS PLATFORM
From 2024 we are using the Placements tool on our new Unifrog careers platform to manage the work experience system. There are no longer any paper forms to be returned and all documents will now be completed online which means that students, employers, and school can follow the process in real time. Students will be given detailed instructions during their Personal Development lessons and with form tutors on how to complete the process; however, the relevant points to get started are summarised in this letter 2024.03.13-Unifrog-Letter-to Year 10 & Year 12 parents.pdf
Testimonial from a WORK EXPERIENCE employer
I think the week’s Work Experience was really worthwhile and interesting, for Ryan. Here are a few photos from Ryan’s week.
Ryan visited The Elmshurst Ballet School, in Birmingham on Monday. On Wednesday, he attended a marketing meeting with the Dance Consortium in London. Finally, on Friday, he visited the Birmingham Royal Ballet stores in Minworth. Ryan was particularly fascinated by the range of props stored in the vast premises there!
Testimonial from a WORK EXPERIENCE employer
What Is Work Experience?
Work Experience is a period of time spent by students in Year 10 in an adult working environment. The variety of places available is limited only by safety, insurance or security restrictions. The choice is determined by the student and courses chosen in consultation with subject teachers, tutors and with Mrs Bishop, the Work Experience and Careers Co-ordinator at school. This year, Year 10 Students will be spending one week from 8th July until 11th July 2024.
Why Does Work Experience Happen?
Work Experience helps students to:
- Develop key skills, appropriate attitudes and develops personal qualities which together make for work readiness.
- Understand the world of work.
- Increase your knowledge of particular jobs or careers.
- Improve and appreciate your employability skills and talents
- Gain confidence
- Accept the importance of school and college and or university work
What can I do for my Work Experience placement?
Depending upon the courses you are presently studying at school, some, such as Health and Social Care, require you to gain a Work Experience placement within that subject area to support your coursework. You may already have a clear idea of the career you wish to follow post 16 and so Work Experience within that area would be your ideal choice. If you have no clear idea what you would like to do for Work Experience, please see Mrs Bishop, Work Experience and Careers Co-ordinator in the Sixth Form Centre who will be able to help and support you.
Who can help me?
Make sure you discuss your Work Experience placement in depth with your parents/carers and Tutors in the first instance. If you require any guidance or advice please see Mrs Bishop.
What do I hope to gain from Work Experience?
This might include:
- An insight into what the workplace is like.
- Experience/ideas for your future career.
- Learning that you would not like to work in a certain environment in the future.
- Experience and a reference to use when applying to colleges of further education or Sixth Form post 16.
- Learning about yourself – how to approach tasks and deal with problems, your strengths and weaknesses.
- Contact for a future part time or full time job.
Planning the placement
- Look for places which will challenge your abilities and test out your career options.
- Find the right placement in good time.
- Make the initial enquiries and contact the employer yourself preferably by approaching them directly or by writing a letter of application attaching a personal information sheet.
- Keep the school informed.
- Try to take up placement opportunities in non traditional and unusual areas.
- Be prepared to carry out any tasks you are given to the very best of your ability, recognising that some of the tasks may be boring or menial. As you complete these tasks successfully, it is likely that you will be given more stretching tasks as the week progresses.
- Do some basic research beforehand into the employing company and what it does.
Students will be expected to:
- Be punctual, reliable and co-operative. Punctuality and turning up for work on time is vitally important so research your travel arrangements beforehand
- Remember to call the employer and school if you are ill or going to be late.
- Behave properly in an adult working environment.
- Work a normal working day.
- Undertake any reasonable request made by the employer.
- Dress appropriately (finding out what is expected beforehand).
- Listen carefully and follow instructions.
- Abide by all health and safety guidelines as stated by the employer.
- Tell a member of staff where you are at all times.
- Have a positive and helpful attitude.
- Enjoy and stick with it! It is therefore vitally important that you make the right placement choice initially.
- Complete your Work Experience Diary on a daily basis.
Further Information
If you have any queries about Work Experience please contact Mrs Bishop, Work Experience and Careers Co-ordinator at school. Her office is located in Sixth Form Centre.
Tel No: 01675 462435
