Year 10 – Work Experience 2023
Dear Parent/Carer,
Work Experience 2023
Year 10 students should now be in the final stages of securing a work experience placement.
When is Work Experience Week?
WEX Week runs from 20th-24th March for all students in Y10. Students will spend Monday 20th in school learning employability skills and preparing for the week ahead. For the following four days they will be in a work placement of their choice. Work experience is a vital part of mainstream education at Key Stage 4 which allows students to gain an insight into the world of work and learn key skills which will help inform their career decisions.
How is work experience organised? Work experience was launched in July. Students received assemblies before summer and in the first weeks back where they were encouraged to be independent and proactive in finding and confirming placements. They have received additional time, support and information through their SPACE lessons in term one.
Students are required to call or visit potential employers to confirm a placement and then deliver a work experience agreement form for the employer to complete. The placement is confirmed when the form is returned, processed and Health and Safety checks have been completed.
When is the WEX deadline? All students must have contacted their placements and delivered their cover letters and relevant forms by December 2022. If they have not already done this independently they may need additional support, from you, to make the calls and secure the correct placement for them. We have attached a Work Experience Agreement Form 2023 to confirm the placement. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the school or the Work Experience team directly at [email protected].
Can students choose a placement which isn’t on a preapproved list? Absolutely. Whilst students do have a list of previously agreed placements shared with them in SIMS for inspiration, we want students to find the correct placement for them. As I am sure you will appreciate, the Health and Safety aspect of placements is a priority. When a student finds a work placement a Health and Safety check will be carried out. New placements, or placements which are further afield or less routine, may take a longer time to check so must be confirmed as early as possible next year.
What can you do to help further?
Work Experience is a fantastic opportunity to raise aspirations, broaden mindsets and introduce our students to the world of work. Last year saw more diverse and far-reaching placements than ever before. If you have any links to employers who may be able to offer placements or you yourself are able to offer a placement, please let the careers team know.
Yours sincerely,
Ms R Allchurch Mrs J Fielding
Raising Standards Leader/WEX Co-ordinator Careers Lead
