Work Experience

All students in the UK are expected to complete a work placement in years 10 and 12, in line with government benchmarks. At Highams Park , we see work experience as an essential and exciting part of your professional development as a student. In this part of the website you should find answers to the Who, What, Why, Where, When and How of work experience.

WHAT is work experience?

Work experience is an opportunity for Year 10 and Year 12 pupils to spend one or two weeks with an employer, in the workplace. It gives you an opportunity to gain invaluable experience within a professional environment, develop your all-important employability skills, gain confidence and it will help you make decisions about your future.

Usually a work placement will involve shadowing people within a company so that you get to understand different roles and responsibilities. Alternatively, you might be given a different style of task each day so you get to experience as much as possible. You may be given a specific project to work on in a team and/or be asked to give a presentation at the end of the week. In other settings, you may only be able to shadow, rather than be hands-on, due to the nature of the job. This is still a very insightful experience and some companies/organisations may prefer to offer a week of shadowing if they are not able to coordinate a week of hands-on work.

WHY do work experience?

Hopefully this is a question you already know the answer to, at least in part, but the list of reasons is endless. Perhaps one of the most convincing reasons is that over 80% of employers and universities see work experience as essential. If you put yourself in the shoes of an employer or university, who would you rather recruit, someone who has spent time in a professional setting developing their skills or someone who has no experience of the world of work?

Recent research shows that if you have four or more workplace encounters during your education you are 86% more employable.

Work experience offers you many benefits and learning opportunities:

Developing key employability skills such as communication skills, problem-solving, critical thinking, resilience, time management and teamwork to name a few
Increased professionalism and maturity, which can in turn increase motivation and self-confidence in school and so benefit your outcomes
A better understanding of changes in the world of work and what these might mean for your own career choices
Preparation for the transition from school to the workplace
Increased chances of successful applications to college, sixth form, university, jobs and apprenticeships
First hand experience of a working environment, which will help you when deciding what kind of career you’d like to pursue - do you like an office or would you prefer a more dynamic work setting etc.?
Networking: building connections with potential future employers and professionals who can provide references - you won’t get a job without a reference

If you’re interested in a more vocational route, for example medicine or law, getting some relevant work experience is proof of your ambition, drive and passion. It is easy to claim you’re passionate about something but if you haven’t been proactive in learning more about it and getting some hands on experience then how do you prove it?

HOW do I organise my work experience?

It is down to you to find your own work experience with the school’s support and guidance. The school will prepare you for the process through PSHE lessons, assemblies and tutor time activities. This includes:

Guidance on contacting employers to find placements
Explanation of the school work experience procedures
Tutor time sessions dedicated to finding work experience
Opportunities shared via the careers website or classroom
Access to work placements via our school partnerships

Here is some advice to get you started :

ACT NOW! Remember students from other schools will also be out there searching for the best opportunities. Don’t be left behind only to find all the best placements have gone!
Ask your parents/carers if they have any family friends who could help you to find a placement.
Have a look at offices on the local high street that you might have previously ignored - if you find anything interesting, contact them directly
Call or email companies and ask politely if you could speak to someone about the possibility of doing work experience with them or complete the application form. If no one is available, ask for a name and an email address.
If they agree to place you, then ask them the most convenient way to get the self placement form completed. Do they want you to post it or email it, or would they prefer you to take it to them personally which will give them a chance to meet with you as well as complete the form?
Ensure you tell the employer about any relevant medical conditions or needs.
Make sure that your employer provides details of their ‘Employer Liability Insurance’ document in the relevant section of the work experience form you will be required to fill in. You will need this to be allowed to go on the placement.

WHEN can I do my work experience?

Work experience must be completed at the end of the Easter Holidays in year 10 and at the end of the summer term in year 12.

You could also work over a series of weekends or after school if for example you wanted to work with children or in an educational setting.

WHO has to do work experience?

All pupils are expected to complete at least one work experience placement in both year 10 and year 12.

How parents can help

Discuss with your child what they would like to do when out on work experience - remember work experience does not necessarily have to be a career choice it is about gaining experience in an adult wrkplace.
Encourage your child to contact employers directly - in person, by ‘phone, by letter or by email - make use of search engines online or business directories to find out a company’s contact details.
It is important to approach a good number of companies to ensure students have options open to them. Particularly as students may find companies take weeks to only reply with a “no”, or may not reply at all. Your child should not get disheartened by this, it is nothing personal.
Please check that the company is suitably insured. A copy of their Employer Liability Insurance MUST be returned with the self placement form.
Ensure you pass on any relevant medical information to the employer.
Sign and return the self placement form promptly
Ensure that both the school and employer are notified if the pupils is unable to attend on the designated days
Encourage the pupil to have a positive approach to the placement, even if it isn’t quite what they expected
Ensure that they are wearing appropriate clothes for their placement and arrive on time