At Madeley School we use a Careers Information, Advice and Guidance provider called Changing Education for work experience placements and careers interviews. Work experience is an opportunity for young people to gain an insight into the world of work, and to help them prepare for the responsibilities and opportunities of adult life. The vast majority of Year 10 students go on their work experience placement in the last week of term in July. A small number of students complete their placement at an alternative time.
Arranging a work experience placement
Students are asked, in the first instance, to try to arrange a placement for themselves. This is called a self-placement. In order to arrange a placement for themselves, students are asked to consider the type of placement that they are interested in. They will then need to approach the employer in person, by phone, letter or email in order to secure the placement. Some companies may ask for a CV. Advice on writing CV’s and approaching work experience employers is provided by tutors in form time sessions. Additional advice for students can be found using the link below:
https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers-advice/work-experience/how-to-get-work-experience
Things to consider when arranging a work experience placement
- We discourage students from working with their parents or relatives, as a major part of the experience is for the students to work with people that they have not worked with before in a new environment.
- We cannot accept placements where you child would be working on a one to one basis.
- Some placements require protective clothing, which are not always provided by the employer.
- Placements working with children or vulnerable adults may require applicants to be DBS (police) checked.
- Any student working with animals is advised to have a tetanus injection.
- It is a good idea to research transport links before deciding on a placement.
Self-placement application
We are encouraging pupils to use the ‘ConnectED Placement Manager’ app. Pupils will be directed to during form time to download and log into this app using an email link or a personalised QR code. They will then use the app to log their work experience placement and track to see when it has been verified by Madeley School and Changing Education.
In summary, for verification the school will be asking employers for the following information:
- Safeguarding policies and practices
- Safeguarding training undertaken by relevant employees who will be supervising pupils.
- Check (if relevant) completed on individuals who will be supervising the pupil.
- Risk Assessments
- Public Liability Insurance that covers work placements
- Health and Safety policies
Work Experience Preparation Day
All Year 10 students take part in a work experience preparation day. They are asked to complete a series of activities in sessions designed to get them to think carefully about their upcoming placement. The sessions include:
- Preparing for a work experience placement
- Getting the most out of a work experience placement
- Employability skills
- Health and safety
During the Work Experience Placement
Absence/Lateness
If a student cannot attend/will be late for any reason we ask them to contact the work placement and school by phone. If the work experience placement is closed the student must attend school that day.
Issues/Concerns
If a student has any issues/concerns during the work experience placement we ask their parent/carer to contact us.
Staff Visits
During the placement staff will visit the employer and student to find out how they are getting on.
Changing Education Email to Employers
An email will be sent to employers asking them to complete feedback on the student.
After the Work Experience Placement
Students are asked to bring their work experience log books back into school in the first week back in September. We use the information in the log book to support them with CV writing, personal statements, and college/6th form interview preparation.