Work Experience Dates 2024
Our work experience dates for pupils in Year 10 and Year 12 this academic year are from Monday 15th July until Friday 19th July 2024.
We understand that some companies/organisations set their own dates, if this is the case then please ask your son/daughter to email Mrs Pascoe (workexperience@beechencliff.org.uk) to let her know and we will confirm the alternative dates, where possible.
If your child takes part in work experience on alternative days then they will be expected to be in school during the last week of the summer term – we will be running “Experience of the Workplace”/Careers activities during that week.
Please see the information and links below that will support your son/daughter to find their placement. If you have any further questions please contact your child’s tutor for further support.
Year 10
This year Year 10 students are going to be using the Connect App from the education charity, Changing Education Group to log, track, and manage their placement, if your child does not have access to a mobile phone there is an online portal. Changing Education Group has been a trusted partner for student work experiences for over 15 years. They work closely with schools to organise comprehensive programmes, ensuring that students have access to a safe and educational experiences. All employers participating in the programme complete thorough risk assessments, and they have employers liability insurance to ensure the safety of our students. More information to follow.
Year 12
Please find below the forms that need to be completed to confirm your son/daughter’s work experience placement – one needs to be filled in by parent/carer and the other by the employer, which will include providing employers liability insurance details:
Careers inspiration and advice
Don’t worry if you’re still not sure about the kind of career you want. Work experience is a great way of trying out a job or industry to see if it’s for you.
If you do not know what job you want yet, or you cannot get your perfect placement, any work experience is better than none. Whatever job you try, you’ll learn more about yourself and working life.
Work experience is a chance for you to:
- find out what inspires you
- come up with career ideas and try them out
- discover your strengths, values, motivations and interests
- meet new people and build your network of contacts
- identify any reasonable adjustments you may need because of a disability or long term health condition
- It can also help you to rule out options, which can help to focus your career ideas.
It can be helpful to think about what you like to do and where you feel your strengths lie. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What are my favourite subjects at school?
- What subjects am I good at and which ones do I find more difficult?
- What do I enjoy doing outside school? Could I turn my hobby into a career?
- What jobs have I heard about or seen other people doing? Could I see myself doing any of these jobs?
It can also be useful to speak to friends, family members and your teachers about their careers and how they got there. These conversations will help you start to get an idea of what different jobs are like and what qualifications and experiences you will need for particular careers.
You can find useful careers information and planning tools online, here are some examples:
- National Careers Service – explore over 800 job profiles, match your skills and interests to potential jobs
- Springpod – Meet industry experts, complete mini-activities, and experience real workplace activities
- Barclays Life Skills – advice and guidance related to work experience
- Youth Employment UK – advice about how to write a CV that helps you stand out to employers.
- Speakers For Schools – the perfect place to start your career journey! Explore the latest placements on offer from hundreds of employers across a wide range of industries.
- Success at School – explore different careers, find out about top employers
- Prospects – careers advice and jobs for school leavers, graduates and professionals
- Plotr – contains lots of useful information and a quiz to help you narrow down your list of options
- UCAS – Work experience, placements, and volunteering are great ways to demonstrate your enthusiasm, knowledge, and passion for your chosen subject area.
Arranging a work experience placement
Apply directly to an employer for a place on a work experience programme they run or make a speculative application to an employer which does not normally run a work experience programme.
Applying for a formal work experience placement
Many well-known large businesses operate their own work experience programmes so have a look at the work experience/early careers pages of a company website. It’s not just commercial organisations which offer work experience. You’ll also find larger charities and public sector organisations offer work experience for pupils.
Approach businesses that don’t advertise work experience opportunities
Don’t let the fact that a business does not advertise work experience opportunities put you off from asking if they’ll take you on.
For example, small and medium-sized businesses account for 60% of all private sector employment in the UK but may not have the time to formally advertise work experience placements every year. If you’re interested in what a business does, it’s worth contacting them to see if they’d offer you work experience.
How you approach contacting a business will vary from business to business. It can be a good idea to speak to the manager or owner, either in person or by phone, before making a formal application. Speaking to a person beforehand should give you an idea of whether a business is open to offering work experience. Should your initial contact be positive, you can then ask the business whether they would like you to make a formal application.
Although it’s often better to speak to a business beforehand, don’t be afraid to send off speculative emails to businesses you are especially keen to work for. A brief email explaining why you want to do work experience at the business, along with your CV, demonstrates your initiative and self-motivation, two qualities employers value greatly.
Virtual work experience
Some companies have developed ‘virtual’ placements. You work remotely using digital technology, without having to go into the workplace. These virtual placements can be done as well as the school work experience week so that you have access to a variety of different opportunities.
You can also learn to deal with situations in the workplace without having to go out on a placement. Accenture’s Skills to Succeed Academy and Barclays Lifeskills can help you to develop these skills.
FutureLearn has a virtual work experience course for exploring the work of a vet. Search online for other online work experience, virtual internships and insight into work opportunities.
Springpod – Meet industry experts, complete mini-activities, and experience real workplace activities
Speakers For Schools – Explore the latest placements on offer from hundreds of employers across a wide range of industries.