Work Experience – What´s it all about?
Work experience gives your child the chance to try out an area of work and experience a real working environment. However, it is not just about the work your child will observe or do. It is a broader experience to help develop skills, knowledge and attitudes including self-awareness, planning, decision-making, taking responsibility, developing independence, confidence building, time keeping, health and safety, and coping with new situations and people.Work experience usually takes place when your child is in Year 10 or 11.
You may be aware of recent changes in the education system, known as the 14-19 reform. These include new qualifications called diplomas. They will require an element of work experience as part of the course.
Types of work experience:
- For the majority of pupils work experience placements generally last for a block of one week with the pupil remaining with the same employer. In a few schools, placements last for two weeks; in this instance pupils may have the opportunity to have placements with two different employers.
- Extended work experience continues for more than two weeks and is not usually a single block of time. A programme of work experience is built around a pupil´s individual needs ensuring they have sufficient time to complete their Accredited Learning Programme.
- Curriculum – focused. This model is tailored to a specific course and may contribute towards a pupil´s qualifications.
- Part – time work. Some schools are investigating the possibility of monitoring and accrediting students´ part–time jobs as work experience.
- Community/charity-based placements. Work experience does not only take place in commercial environments. Community/charity–based placements offer equally rich learning opportunities.
Your child´s school will let you know what types of work experience it offers.
The links below have been designed to work alongside the information on the ‘I am a Student’ section of this website so you can support, encourage and motivate your child every step of the way.