Modern Work Experience at Madeley School

At Madeley School, Modern Work Experience is a planned programme running from Year 7 to Year 11, designed to help students understand the world of work, develop key employability skills and make informed decisions about future pathways. Our approach is aligned with the Equalex framework and supported by Unifrog, our careers platform.


What is Modern Work Experience?

Work experience gives young people valuable insight into the world of work and helps prepare them for the responsibilities and opportunities of adult life. At Madeley School, this is not limited to a single placement, but built up over time through:

  • Careers education in lessons and form time
  • Employer encounters and workplace visits
  • Skills development using the Equalex framework
  • A high-quality work experience placement in Year 10

The vast majority of Year 10 students complete their work experience placement in the penultimate week of the summer term in July. A small number of students may complete their placement at an alternative time where appropriate.


Years 7–9: Careers Awareness and Employability Skills Development

In Key Stage 3, students focus on exploring careers and developing employability skills.

Students take part in:

  • Careers-focused lessons and assemblies
  • Employer talks and workshops
  • Curriculum-linked careers visits and trips
  • Activities that build communication, teamwork, resilience and confidence

These experiences are linked to the Equalex framework, helping students recognise how the skills they develop in school are valued by employers.


Years 10–11: Applying Skills and Gaining Experience

Year 10 Work Experience Placement

All Year 10 students complete a work experience placement, allowing them to:

  • Experience a real workplace environment
  • Apply Equalex employability skills in practice
  • Develop independence and responsibility
  • Explore potential career pathways

Work experience placements are organised and managed using Unifrog:

https://www.unifrog.org/

Unifrog enables students to:

  • Research and record their work experience placement
  • Upload employer details and required information
  • Complete preparation activities before the placement
  • Reflect on skills gained after the placement

Parents and carers are also able to support students throughout the process via Unifrog.

Year 11: Reflecting and Planning Next Steps

In Year 11, students build on their work experience by:

  • Reflecting on feedback and skills developed
  • Linking experiences to post-16 options such as college, sixth form or apprenticeships
  • Using experiences to support applications and interviews


Arranging a Work Experience Placement (Self-Placement)

Students are asked, in the first instance, to try to arrange a placement for themselves. This is known as a self-placement.

To do this, students should:

  • Consider the type of placement they are interested in
  • Approach employers in person, by phone, letter or email
  • Be prepared to provide a CV if requested

Advice on writing CVs and approaching employers is provided during form time and careers sessions. Additional guidance can be found here:

https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers-advice/work-experience/how-to-get-work-experience


Things to Consider When Arranging a Placement

When choosing a placement, please note:

  • Placements where a student would be working on a one-to-one basis with an adult (unless this is a parent/carer) cannot be accepted
  • If the placement where you and a single adult are together for most/majority of the time on the placement, with no other adult present (unless the adult is their parent/carer, i.e. at least 50% of each day or more than 3 whole days during the placement (1 week) the single adult must have an enhanced DBS with barred list check. We cannot legally approve a placement if this condition is not met. 
  • Some placements require protective clothing, which may not always be provided by the employer
  • Placements involving children or vulnerable adults may require Enhanced DBS checks with barring checks
  • Students working with animals are advised to have a tetanus injection
  • Transport arrangements should be considered before confirming a placement

 

Adding a placement on Unifrog using the Work Placement Tool

Step 1: Watch the video using the link below 

cdn.unifrog.org/video/g6k0b9a2zb/720.mp4 

Step 2: Go to the Placements tool. 

  • Log into Unifrog
  • On your homepage, scroll down and click the Placements tile 

Step 3: Add a new placement. 

  • Click “Add new placement”
  • This opens the Student initial form 

Step 4: Confirm the employer has agreed. 

  • You’ll be asked if the employer has agreed to host you
  • Only select “Yes, I have agreed it with the employer” if this is true
  • If not, wait until they confirm before continuing 

Step 5: Fill in the form carefully. 

You’ll need to enter: 

  • Your details
  • Placement dates and times
  • Employer’s name and correct email address
  • Your parent/carer’s correct email address 

Every question must be filled in. It is really important that the correct email addresses are entered.

Step 6: Double-check everything. 

Before submitting: 

  • Check spellings
  • Check email addresses carefully. Incorrect emails can delay or stop the process. 

Step 7: Submit your placement. 

  • Click “Add placement”
  • This starts the process automatically  


What happens next? 

  • Your employer gets an email to complete their form
  • Your parent/carer gets an email to give permission
  • Your school reviews everything and approves it 

Tracking your placement 

  • Go back to the Placements tile on your homepage
  • You will see the status of each form and who still needs to complete theirs  


Recording and Verification of Placements using Unifrog

All work experience placements must be recorded on Unifrog.

Through Unifrog, the school will collect the following information from employers to verify placements:

  • Safeguarding policies and practices
  • Safeguarding training undertaken by staff supervising students
  • Relevant checks on supervising staff (where required)
  • Risk assessments
  • Public liability insurance covering work placements
  • Health and safety policies

Placements must be fully verified before they can be approved.


Work Experience Preparation

All Year 10 students take part in Work Experience Preparation sessions. During these sessions, students complete activities designed to help them prepare for their placement, including:

  • Preparing for the workplace
  • Getting the most out of work experience
  • Employability skills (linked to Equalex)
  • Health and safety awareness


During the Work Experience Placement

Absence or Lateness

If a student is unable to attend or is going to be late, they must contact both the employer and the school by phone. If the placement is closed for any reason, the student must attend school.

Issues or Concerns

If any issues or concerns arise during the placement, parents/carers should contact the school as soon as possible.

Staff Visits

Where appropriate, school staff will visit students at their placement to check on progress and wellbeing.


After the Work Experience Placement

After completing their placement, students are required to complete their reflections on Unifrog.

The information gathered is used to support:

  • CV writing
  • Personal statements
  • College, sixth form and apprenticeship applications
  • Interview preparation

Modern Work Experience at Madeley School ensures students leave with the skills, confidence and understanding needed to succeed in the next stage of their education and future careers.